-(M§Y§M^ 


250™  AnjvTivei^ary 


OF    THE 


Pounding  op  T^aunton 


1639  — 1889 


Quarter  Millennial 


CELEBRATION 


CITY  OF  TAUNTON, 


MASSACHUSETTS, 


Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  June  4  and  5, 


1889. 


Taunton,  Massachusetts  : 

Published  by  the  City  Government. 

1889. 


PRESS     OF 

CHARLES    H.    BUFFINGTON, 

TAUNTON. 


To  the  Honorable  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Taunton  : 

The  committee  appointed  to  publish  a  History  of  the  Cele- 
bration of  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  Founding  of  Taunton  re- 
spectfully submit  this  volume  as  a  result  of  their  labors. 

The  initiatory  proceedings  relative  to  this  celebration  were 
commenced  by  the  City  Council  in  April,  1886,  when  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  confer  with  a  delegation  from  the  Old  Colony 
Historical  Society  relative  to  deciding  upon  the  year  in  which  the 
celebration  should  take  place.  This  committee  reported  in  Octo- 
ber, recommending  that  the  year  1889  be  selected,  that  being  the 
250th  year  from  the  founding  of  Taunton  according  to  the  most 
reliable  information  obtained  by  the  committee.  This  recommen- 
dation was  adopted  and  the  following  year  an  order  was  passed, 
appointing  the  4th  and  5th  of  June  as  the  days  on  which  the  cele- 
bration should  be  held. 

In  January,  1888,  an  order  was  adopted  authorizing  His  Honor 
the  Mayor,  on  behalf  of  the  City,  to  petition  the  Legislature  for 
leave  to  expend  the  sum  of  $5,000  in  this  celebration,  which  peti- 
tion was  granted  and  in  February,  1889,  an  order  was  passed  by 
the  City  Council  appropriating  that  amount  for  the  above  purpose. 

A  full  and  exhaustive  account  of  the  proceedings  during  the 
celebration  will  be  found  in  the  following  pages. 

We  desire  to  express  our  full  appreciation  of  the  valuable  ser- 
vices rendered  by  the  committee  on  the  part  of  the  Old  Colony 
Historical  Society,  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Fuller,  James  H.  Dean,  Esq., 
and  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery  in  collecting  and  preparing  the  matter 
for  publication. 

Richard  Henry  Hall,  Mayor,     Ripley  \V.  Townsend, 
Edward  H.  Temple,  E.  Clarence  Holt, 

Charles  S.  Anthony,  Alden  H.  Blake, 

Edward  A,  Fay. 


COMMITTEES  APPOINTED  ON  BEHALF  OF 
THE  CITY  GOVERNMENT: 

COMMITTEE    1886. 

Mayor  Richard   Henry  Hall. 

Aldermen. 

Daniel  Carey,  Henry  W.   Colby. 

President  George  H.   Rhodes. 

Councili)ian  John   H.   Eldridge. 

COMMITTEE  1887. 

Mayor  Everett  D.   Godfrey. 

Aldennen. 

Francis  S.   Babbitt,  Henry  W.  Colby. 

President  Ripley  W.   To^vxsEND. 

Connciluien. 

Charles  S.   Anthony,  E.   Clarence  Holt, 

Crysis  T.   Scott. 

committee  1888. 

Mayor  Richard   Henry  Hall. 

Aldermen. 

Charles  S.   Anthony,  John   H.   Eldridge, 

President  Ripley  W.   Townsend. 

Councilmen. 

E.   Clarence  Holt,  Alden  H.   Blake, 

Edward  A.   Fay. 

committee   1889. 

Mg,yor  Richard   Henry   Hall. 

Aldermen. 

Edward  H.   Temple,  Charles  S.   Anthony, 

President  Ripley  W.   Townsend. 

Couneilmen. 

E.   Clarence  Holt,  Alden   H.   Blake, 

Edward  A.   Fay. 


CITY   GOVERNMENT,   1889. 


Mayor. 
Richard   Henry   Hall. 


Aide  line  n. 
Edward   H.   Temple,    Chainiian. 
Edward   H.   Temple,  Benjamln  Morrls, 

Charles  S.   Anthony,  Arthur  K.  Williams, 

A.   Gilbert  Willlvms,  George  N.   Elmes, 

G.   Arthur  Llncoln,  Willlam  McAusland, 

Edwin  A.   Tetlow,    Clerk. 


Common    Conneil. 
Ripley  W.   Townsend,   President. 


Herbert  N.    Pierce, 
J.   Alfred  Messinger, 
Alden  H.   Blake, 
E.   Clarence  Holt, 
John  T.  Franks, 
Willis  K.   Hodgman, 
WiNTHROP  A.   Robinson, 
Gustavus  T.   Fisher, 
Edward  A.   Fay, 
Henry  A.   Short, 
Charles  E.   Mason, 
Noah   Lemaire, 


Marcus  A.   Dary, 
Albert  M.   Clark, 
James   H.    Lincoln, 
Thomas  F.   Hoye, 
Frederick  V.   Brown, 
Charles   L.   Johnson, 
Frederick   E.   Austin, 
John  A.   McDonald, 
*David  Johnson, 
Frederick   A.    Walker, 
John   C.   Finn, 
George  Ellam, 


Joseph   R.   Tallman,    Clerk. 


♦Deceased. 


NOTE  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  PUBLICATION. 


Charged  with  the  care  of  preparing  for  publication  the 
proceedings  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary 
of  Taunton,  the  committee  wish,  first  of  all,  to  express  the 
general  feeling  of  gratification  in  the  favor  with  which  the 
celebration  was  regarded  by  the  thousands  of  visiting 
friends.  Numerous  letters  have  been  received,  congratulat- 
ing the  city  on  the  success  of  the  first  memorial  occasion  in 
its  history. 

The  design  of  this  publication  is  to  reproduce  and  pre- 
serve on  the  printed  page  all  which  was  said  and  done  dur- 
ing these  two  memorable  days,  for  the  instruction  and  bene- 
fit of  the  coming  generations.  There  is  no  attempt  to  go 
beyond  these  prescribed  limits.  It  is  hoped  the  book,  such 
as  it  is,  may  suggest  to  some  future  historian  a  more  com- 
plete account  of  the  ancient  Taunton,  than  has  ever  yet 
been   produced. 

Samuel   Hopkins  Emery,  \  Committee     on 
William   Eddy  Fuller,     >       Publication 
James   Henry   Dean,  )  of  Proceedings. 


NTRODUCTORY    NOTICE. 


The  first  suggestion  during  the  two  centuries  and  a 
half  of  Taunton's  distinct  existence  as  a  town  and  city  of 
a  suitable  observance  of  the  anniversary  of  its  birth, 
occurred,  so  far  as  the  records  show,  on  this  wise  : — 

Taunton,  July  20,   1885. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  Samuel 
Hopkins  Emery  offered  the  following  Preamble  and  Resolution : — 

Whereas,  the  time  is  near,  when  the  two  hundred  and 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  most  ancient  towns 
of  the  Old  Colony  should  be  appropriately  observed  and  whereas 
it  IS  fitting  that  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society  should  call 
attention  to  the  observance  and  take  the  initiatory  steps  thereto, 
Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  William  E.  Fuller,  Henry  Williams,  Edmund 
H.  Bennett,  Timothy  Gordon,  Charles  A.  Reed,  Edgar  H.  Reed 
and  James  H.  Dean  be  a  committee  of  the  Society  to  consider  the 
whole  subject  of  such  an  observance  and  to  report,  as  early  as 
they  may  be  able,  the  exact  dates  of  the  settlement  and  incorpora- 
tion of  these  towns  and  to  recommend  some  form  of  com- 
memorating their  beginning  whether  as    settled    or   incorporated.* 

*It  was  in  the  inind  olkthe  mover  of  this  Resolution  to  commnnicnte  with  the 
towns  of  the  Old  Colony  winch  in  their  settlement  antedated  Taunton  vix.  Duxliury 
and  Scituate,  which  he  accordingly  did,  suggesting  a  suitable  observance.  Duxburj» 
at  its  annual  meeting^  April  4,  1887,  voted  to  celebrate  and  fixed  on  the  17th  of  June, 
of  that  year  as  the  day-  Justin  Winsor,  whose  parents  were  natives  of  the  town 
delivered  the  historical  address  and  Governors  Long  and  Ames,  President  Boardman 
of  the  Senate,  Speaker  Noyes  of  the  House,  Secretary  Peirce  and  other  distinguished 
men  honored  the  occasion  with  their  presence  and  were  heard  at  the  Banquet.  The 
observance  of  the  day  was  a  great  success.  This  good  example  has  been  followed  by 
other  towns— by  Sandwich  and  Yarmouth,  Tuesday  the  3d  of  Septembei',  188'J. 


8  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

After  extended  remarks  from  Mr.  Emery  and  others,  the 
Preamble  and  Resolution  were  unanimously  adopted,  an 
amendment  being  made  thereto  by  adding  the  name  of  S. 
Hopkins  Emery  as  chairman  to  the  list  of  names  pro- 
posed  in    the  Resolution. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  committee  was  held  in  what 
was  then  Cedar  Street  Chapel,  now  Historical  Hall,  Oct.  3d, 
1885.  Present,  the  chairman,  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Edmund 
H.  Bennett,  William  E.  Fuller,  Henry  Williams,  Charles  A. 
Reed,  P2dgar  H.  Reed.  Willjam  E.  P"uller  was  chosen 
secretary.  It  was  voted,  that  some  appropriate  observance 
of  the  approaching  250th  Anniversary  of  the  settlement  of 
Taunton  be  provided  for.  Further  discussion  followed, 
chiefly  upon  the  question  of  time  when  the  community  of 
Cohannet  first  obtained  recognition  by  the  General  Court  at 
New  Plymouth,  as  a  corporate  body,  no  distinct  act  of  In- 
corporation having  been  found  in  the  records  of  Plymouth 
Colony. 

Committee  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place.  Oct.  10. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  Oct.  10,  after  considerable 
discussion,  on  motion  of  Edmund  H.  Bennett,  it  was  voted, 
to  report  to  the  Society  the  recommendation  that  the  City 
Government  be  requested  to  appoint  a  committee  of  confer- 
ence to  consider  the  question  not  only  of  time  but  the  whole 
subject  of  an  observance,  such  as  is  contemplated. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical 
Society,  held  Oct.  20,  such  a  report  was  made,  its  recom- 
mendation was  adopted,  the  Society's  committee  continued 
with  authority  to  act  in  concert  with  any  committee  the  City 
Government  might  ap}M)int. 

So  near  the  close  of  the  city's  municipal  year,  it  did  not 
seem  best  to  call  the  attention  of  the  City  Government  to  the 
subject,  and  it  was  not  till    April  7,   1886,  the  committee    of 


I.X'IKODUCTOKV    NOTICE.  9 

the  Old  Cijlony  Historical  Society  passed  the  following  vote  : 

That  the  City  Government  of  Taunton  be  requested  to 
appoint  a  committee  of  its  own  members  to  act  in  confer- 
ence with  the  committee  heretofore  appointed  by  the  Old 
Colony  Historical  Society  to  take  into  consideration  the  mat- 
ter of  celebrating  the  250th  Anniversary  of  Taunton  and 
that  the  President  be  requested  to  lay  the  matter  before  the 
Mayor  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 

This  was  accordingly  done  and  soon  after,  the  attention 
of  the  City  Government  was  called  to  the  subject  and  a 
committee  of  conference  was  appointed,  consisting  of  the 
Mayor,  R.  Henry  Hall,  Aldermen  Daniel  Carey  and  Henry 
W.  Colby,  President  George  H.  Rhodes  of  the  Council  and 
Councilman  John  H.  Eldridge. 

April  20,  1886,  the  first  meeting  of  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee was  held  in  the  City  Hall,  Mayor  Hall  being  in  the 
chair.      William  K.  Fuller  was  chosen  secretary. 

On  motion  of  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  it  was  unanimously 
voted,  that  in  the  opinion  of  this  Joint  Committee,  it  is  desir- 
able to  observe  by  appropriate  ceremonies  the  250th  An- 
niversary of  the  founding  of  Taunton. 

On  motion  of  P^dmund  H.  Bennett,  and  after  much  dis- 
cussion, it  was  voted,  that,  in  the  opinion  of  this  committ^, 
we  should  recommend  the  year  1889  as  the  time  when 
such  anniversary  may  be  properly  celebrated.  No  other 
business  was  transacted. 

It  being  decided,  notwithstanding  the  purchase  and 
settlement  of  Taunton  by  the  name  of  Cohannet,  early  as 
1637,  that  it  was  best  to  defer  the  observance  of  the  250th 
Anniversarv  of  its  founding  till  such  a  time  as  it  was  repre- 
sented by  deputies  in  the  General  Court  at  Plymouth,  under 
the  name  of  Taunton  in  1639,  no  further  meetings  of  the 
Joint  Committee  were  held  during  the  year  1886,   only    Oct, 


lO  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

5th,  to  order  a  report  to  their  respective  constituencies, 
recommending  that  some  day  in  1889  be  observed  as  the 
250th  Anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton. 

Oct.  II,  1886,  William  E.  Fuller,  secretary  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  reported  to  the 
Society,  when  the  committee  was  continued  and  made  a 
permanent  committee,  with  instructions  to  make  further 
needed  arrangements  for  the  proposed  celebration  and  with 
authority  to  fill  vacancies,  enlarge  its  number  and  appoint 
sub-committees  for  special  service. 

In  1887,  the  City  Government  was  represented  in  the 
Joint  Committee  by  Mayor  Everett  D.  Godfrey,  Aldermen 
Francis  S.  Babbitt,  Henry  W.  Colby,  President  Ripley  W. 
Townsend  of  the  Council  and  Councilmen  Charles  S. 
Anthony,  E.  Clarence  Holt  and  Crysis  T.  Scott. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Joint  Committee  was  held 
June  4th  and   S.  Hopkins  Emery    was  chosen    secretary. 

On  motion  of  the  secretary,  the  procedings  of  previous 
years  on  the  subject  of  a  celebration  were  ratified  by  this 
committee  and  accepted  as  authority  for  still  further  action 
toward  the  proposed  observance  of  the  founding  of  Taunton 
sometime  in  1889. 

«  On  motion  of  Charles  A.  Reed,  Mayor  Hall,  S.  Hopkins 
Emery  and  James  H.  Dean  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
name  historic  places  in  the  territory  of  ancient  Taunton  and 
suggest  suitable  memorial  tablets  or  inscriptions. 

On  motion  of  Alderman  Babbitt,  voted,  that  the  Mayor 
be  authorized  to  seek  the  co-operation  of  adjacent  towns, 
which  once  formed  a  part  of  Taunton. 

On  suggestion  of  the  Mayor,  it  was  moved  by  President 
Townsend  of  the  Council,  seconded  by  Councilman  Anthony, 
and  voted,  that  the  portion  of  this  committee  representing 
the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society  be   requested    to    suggest 


INTRODUCTORY    NOTICE.  II 

the  name  or  names  of  one  or  more  persons,  in  their  ju(l<^- 
ment  suitable  to  prepare  an  address  or  addresses  on  the 
occasion  of  the  proposed  celebration. 

The  committee  did  not  meet  again  until  Nov.  22,  1887, 
when  the  name  of  Edmund  H.  Bennett  was  suggested  as 
the  proper  person  to  deliver  the  historical  address  and  he 
was  accordingly  chosen. 

The  committee  also  fixed  on  Tuesday  the  4th  day  of 
June,  1889,  as  the  day  for  the  celebration,  not  only  as  being 
in  a  pleasant  season  of  the  year,  but,  particularly  as  com- 
memorating the  First  General  Assembly  in  Plymouth 
Colony,  when  towns  for  the  first  time  sent  deputies  to  Ply- 
mouth for  legislative  purposes,  Taunton  being  one  of  the 
number. 

The  committee  voted,  to  ask  the  City  Council,  to 
secure,  if  necessary,  special  legislation  the  coming  winter, 
for  authority  to  appropriate  money  for  the  purposes  of  the 
celebration. 

In  1888,  the  City  Government  was  represented  in  the 
Joint  Committee  by  Mayor  R.  Henry  Hall,  Aldermen 
Charles  S.  Anthony,  John  H.  Eldridge,  Councilmen,  Ripley 
W.  Townsend,  President,  Alden  H.  Blake,  Edward  A.  Fay 
and  E.  Clarence  Holt. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  Jan.  18.  The  secretary  of 
last  year  was  reappointed  and  all  former  proceedings  rati- 
fied. Five  thousand  dollars  was  the  sum  fixed  upon  to  ask 
the  Council  for  authority  from  the  Legislature  to  appro- 
praite. 

Edmund  H.  Bennett  signified  his  acceptance  of  appoint- 
ment for  the  historical  address. 

It  was  voted  to  meet  again  soon,  and  secure  so  far  as 
possible  a  representation  from  the  Board  of  Selectmen  of 
the  six  adjoining  towns,  Raynham,   Berkley,    Dighton,    Nor- 


12  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ton,  Mansfield  and  Easton,  for  consultation  and    conference. 

This  meeting  was  held  Feb.  1 1,  when  the  Mayor  read 
the  letter  of  invitation  to  the  selectmen  of  the  six  adjoining 
towns  to  be  present  for  consultation  as  to  the  proposed  cele- 
bration. The  town  of  Easton  was  represented  by  Messrs. 
Hiram  Williams  and  Henry  W.  Heath.  No  other  towns 
responded. 

After  a  full  consideration  of  the  part  which  it  was 
desired  the  six  adjoining  towns  should  take  in  this  celebra- 
tion, on  motion  of  the  secretary,  it  was  unanimously  voted 
that  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  Taunton  hereby  request  the  six  adjoining 
towns,  which  once  formed  a  part  of  Taunton,  to  appoint  at 
their  coming  town  meetings,  committees  authorized  to  con- 
fer with  this  committee  and  to  act  in  their  behalf,  in  concert 
with  it. 

At  this  meeting,  Henry  W.  Colby  was  chosen  Poet  for 
the  day  of  celebration. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  committee  was  May  26. 
Henry  Williams,  of  the  committee  representing  the  Old 
Colony  Historical  Society,  having  died,  and  Timothy  Gor- 
don, resigned,  John  W.  D.  Hall  and  Henry  M.  Lovering  were 
appointed  in  their  place  and  were  present  at  the  meeting. 
There  were  also  present  from  Dighton,  Whitman  Chase, 
George  E.  Gooding,  Alfred  W.  Paul  ;  from  Easton,  Hiram 
Williams;  from  Norton,  Isaac  F.  Braman,  George  H.  Talbot; 
from  Raynham,  T.  B.  Johnson,  Stephen  R.  Lincoln,  Damon 
D.   White.      Mansfield  was  not  represented. 

Henry  W.  Colby  signified  his  acceptance  of  appoint- 
ment as  Poet. 

The  committee  on  memorial  tablets  was  enlarged  by 
adding  John  W.  D.  Hall  and  William  E.  Fuller  from  Taun- 
ton, and  one  from  each  of  the  six  adjoining    towns — Alfred 


INTRODUCTORY    NOTICE.  I  3 

W.  Paul,  from  Dighton  ;  William  L.  Chaffin  from  Easton  ; 
Joseph  \V.  White,  from  Raynham  ;  Elkanah  Hall,  from 
Mansfield  ;  Austin  Messinger,  from  Norton;  Giles  L.  Leach, 
from  Berkley.  This  enlarged  committee  was  busy  during 
the  year,  and  made  reports  at  meetings  held  Aug.  23  and 
Dec.  29. 

The  City  Government  was  represented  in  the  Joint 
Committee  in  1889,  by  Mayor  R.  Henry  Hall,  Aldermen 
Edward  H.  Temple,  Charles  S.  Anthony,  Ripley  W.  Town- 
send,  President  of  the  Council,  Councilmen  Alden  H. 
Blake,  Edward  A.  Fay,  E.  Clarence  Holt  and  Ex-Selectmen 
Cornelius  White  and  Nathan  S.  Williams.  The  committee 
of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society  was  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  Alfred  B.  Hodges  and  George  A.  Washburn. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  committee,  January  28,  all 
past  proceedings  were  accepted  and  ratified. 

S.  Hopkins  Emery,  the  secretary  of  the  past  two  years 
was  re-chosen.  The  committee  on  historic  places  and  tablets 
was  re-appointed,  with  the  addition  of  Edgar  H.  Reed. 

It  was  voted  to  take  two  days  for  the  celebration,  Tues- 
day and  Wednesday  the  4th  and  5th  of  June,  1889.  Also, 
to  appoint  a  committee,  of  which  the  Mayor  should  be  chair- 
man, to  report  program  for  the  two  days  and  a  list  of  sub- 
committees to  carry  out  the  proposed  program. 

The  secretary  was  requested  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
clergy  of  Taunton  and  the  surrounding  towns  to  the  cele- 
bration and  suggest  discourses  and  other  exercises  on  the 
Sabbath  preceding,  suited  to  the  occasion. 

On  the  4th  of  P'ebruary,  John  E.  Sanford  was  chosen 
toastmaster,  who  subsequently  declined  to  serve  and  William 
H.  Fox  was  chosen. 

At  a  meeting  held  the  23d  of  February,  Henry  M. 
Lovering  was  chosen  chief    marshal,    by  acclamation    and    a 


14  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

committee  heretofore  appointed,  reported  through  its  chair- 
man, the  Mayor,  a  program  for  the  two  days'  celebration 
and  a  list  of  sub-committees  required    by    that    program. 

The  report  was  substantially  agreed  to,  the  same  ap- 
pearing in  the  lists  of  committees  hereafter  given  and  the 
proceedings  of  the  two  days  published  in  this  book. 

The  Joint  Committee  have  held  twenty  meetings,  ar- 
ranging for  the  celebration,  and  these  meetings  have  been 
characterized  by  the  utmost  harmony  and  a  common  desire 
to  make  the  celebration  of  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  Taunton  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the  Old 
Colony  of  Plymouth  and  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 


15 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  DAY. 


PRESIDENT  OF  THE  DAY. 

Richard  Henrv  Hall,  Mayor  of  Tait/ifon. 

vice  presidents  from  taunton. 
William  H.  Bent,  Charles   H.    Learoyd, 

William  H.  Fox,  Charles  L.  Lovering, 

William  E.  Fuller,  Silas  D.  Presbrev. 

VICE  presidents  FROM  THE  SIX  ADJOINING  TOWNS. 

Norton,  Austin  Messinger, 
Dig/iton,  George  E.  Gooding, 
Easton,  Oakes  A.  Ames, 
RaynJiain,  Nathan  W.  Shaw, 
Berkley,  Giles  L.  Leach, 
Mansfield,  Erastus  M.  Reed. 


JOINT    GENERAL    COMMITTEE 

Representing  the  City  Govei-nment  and  the  Old  Colony  Historical 

Society. 

R.   Henry  Hall,  Mayor,   Chairman. 
S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Secretary. 
Edward  H.  Temple,  Edmund  H.  Bennett, 

Charles  S.  Anthony,  James  H.  Dean, 

Ripley  W.  Townsend,  William  E.  Fuller, 

Alden  H.  Blake,  Charles  A.  Reed, 

Edward  A.  Fay,  Edgar  H.  Reed, 

E.  Clarence  Holt,  John  W.  D.  Hall, 

Cornelius  White,  Henry  M.  Lovering, 

Nathan  S.  Williams,  Alfred  B.  Hodges, 

George  A.  Washburn. 


l6  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

SUB    COMMITTEES. 


Ccwimittee  on  Historic  Places  and  Memorial  Tablets. 

R.   Henry  Hall,   Chairman. 

John  W.   D.   Hall,  Secretary. 

James  H.  Dean,  S.  Hopkins  Emery, 

William  E.  Fuller,  Edgar  H.  Reed. 

All  of  Taunton. 

Samuel  A.  Chapin,  of  Norton. 
Alfred  W.  Paul,  of  Dighton. 
William  L.  Chaffin,  of  Easton. 
Joseph  W.  White,  of  Kaynham. 
Giles  L.  Leach,  of  Berkley. 
Elkanah  Hall,  of  Mansfield. 

Committee  on  Finance. 

R.  Henry  Hall,   Chairman. 

George  A.  Washburn,  Secretary. 

Henry  M.  Lovering. 

Committee  on  Invitation  of  Guests. 

R.  Henry  Hall,   Chairman. 
S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Secretary. 
William  E.  Fuller,  John  W.  D.  Hall, 

Henry  M.  Lovering,  George  A.  Washburn. 

Committee  on  Reception  of  the  Press. 

William   Reed,    Jr.,   Chairtnan. 

William  F.  Greenough,  Secretary. 

William  F.  Kennedy. 

Committee  on  Salute  and  Bell  Ringing. 
E.  Clarence  Holt. 

Committee  on  Pi/ldication  of  Proceedings. 

S.  Hopkins  Emery,   Chairman. 

James  H.  Dean,  Secretary. 

William  E.  Fuller. 


SUP.    COMMITTEES.  1 7 

Coi)i))iittcc  on  Decorations. 

Edward  H.  Temple,   Chairman  and  Secretary. 
Francis  S.  Babbitt,  Nathaniel  J.  Grossman, 

Herbert  L.  Peck,  Herbert  T.  Washburn. 

Committee  on   Vocal  and  hist rii mental  Music. 

Charles  L.  Lover i no,    Chairman. 

Walter  M.   Dunbar,  Secretary. 

Georoe  Bridgham,  Lkander  Soule, 

Mrs.  a.  Glinton  Rhodes. 

Committee  on  Banquet. 

Charles  S.  Anthony,   Chairtnan. 

RiPLEV  W.  Townsend,   Secretary. 

Edward  F.  Gallioan,  George  H.   Rhodes, 

Joseph  S.  Tidd. 

Committee  on  Ball. 

Frederick  Mason,    Chairman. 
Joseph   R.  Tallman,   Secretary. 
Charles  P.  Foster.  John  H.  Galligan, 

Edwin  A.  Tetlow,  Ripley  W,  Townsend, 

Alfred  B.   Sproat,  James  C.   Sproat. 

Committee  on  Printing. 

Edwin  A.  Tetlow,   Chairman. 

George  A.  Washburn,  Secretary. 

S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Silas  D.   Prksbrey, 

Albert  E.  Swasey. 

Committee  on  Carriages  and  Transportation. 

John  H.  Church,   Chairman. 

Byron  F.  Kingsbury,  Secretary. 

Aldex  H.  Blake,  Edward  A.  Fay, 

Joseph  L.  Macomber,  Jr. 


iS  QUARTER     MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Coniiii/tfer  oti  J^iradc. 
Henry  M.  Loverinc,  Chief  Marshal,   C//air?rian. 
Harrlson   a.   Cushman,    Secretary. 
Orville  a.  Barker,  Leonard  B.  Higgins. 

William   H.  Bent,  Alfred  B.   Hodges, 

Henrv  G.  Brown  ell,  Charles  L.  Lovkrtng, 

CiEORGE  W.  CoLP.v,  Henry  C.   PERR^, 

Abner  Coleman,  Henry  G.   Reed, 

N.   Bradford   Df.an,  Geor(;e  E.  Wilbur, 

Henry  A.   Dickerman,  Philander  Williams, 

Solon  R.    Wright. 

Covwiittce  on  Fire    Wotks. 

E.  Clarence  Holi'.   C/ia/mian. 

James  A.  Tinkham,    Secrdary. 

Charles  S.  Anthony,  John  J.   Barker, 

Daniel  Carey. 

Committee  (m    Tableaux. 
William   R.   Billings.   Chairman  and  Secretary. 
Albert  L.  Carpenter,  James  H.   Dean, 

William   C.  Loyering,  James  C.  Sfroat, 

ALr.K.Ri'  E.   Swasey,  HARR^■   H.  Townsend. 

Comviittec  on  Location  of  School  Children. 

George  C.   Capron,    Chairman  and  Secretary. 

George  Bridgham,  Edward  H.  Temple, 

Edward  A.   Eay,  F.  Arihur  Walker. 

Committee  on  Halls. 
Alden   H.   Blake,    Chairman. 
John   H.   Eldridge,  Secretary. 

John  C.  Walker. 


SUP.    COMMITTEES.  JQ 

CoDunitfee  on  Loan  Ex/iihit. 
John  W.  D.   Hall,   Chairnuvi. 
S.   Hopkins  Emery,  Secretary. 
John   F.   MoNixiOMERY. 
Mrs.  Nathalie  E.  Bavliks,  Mrs.   Henry  M.  Loverino. 

Mrs.  Geor(;e  Brabrook,  Mrs.  Charles  L.  Loverino, 

Mrs.  \\'ALrER  J.   Clkmson.  Mrs.   Frederick   Mason, 

Mrs.  Joseph  J.  Cooper.  Mrs.    Thompson    NEWPrkN, 

Mrs.  Joseph  Dunkar,  Mrs.  John  Paul, 

Mrs.  Frank  L.  Fish,  Mrs.  Joseph  Philp.rick, 

Mrs.   Frederick  L.  Fish.  Mrs.   Henry  G.   Reed. 

Mrs.   R.   Henry  Hall,  Mrs.   S.   R.   Townsend. 

Mrs.  Elisha  1\  Jackson,  Miss  Adeline  S.  Ba\lies, 

Miss  Sarah   B.  Williams. 

[The  al)ove  from  Taunton.] 

Miss  Harriot  A.  Newcomb,  Norton. 
Mrs.  Ebenezer  Andrews,  Mrs.  Mary  C.   Rose,    Dighton. 
Mrs.  John  O.  Dean,  Mrs.  Olive  J.  Gilmore,  Easton. 
Miss  Amy  Leonard,  Mrs.  Alcott  E.  Lincoln,  Raynham. 
Mrs.  Alfred  Boardman,  Mrs.  Charles  Corey,  Berkley. 
Mansfield  was  not  represented. 

Committer  on  Flowers. 

Miss  Annie  Andros,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Lincoln, 

Mrs.  J.  J.  Barker,  Mrs.  Alfred  Messinger, 

Mrs.  O.  a.  Barker,  Mrs.  F.   H.  Miett, 

Mrs.   Daniel  Carey,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Monroe, 

Mrs.  \V.  J.  Clemson,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Monhjomery, 

Miss  Alice  G.  Colby,  Mrs.  O.  S.  Paioe, 

Miss  Maria  Converse,  Miss  Annie  Paul, 

Mrs.  H.  L.  Davis,  Miss  Charlotte  L.  Peck  ham. 

Mrs.  a.  N.  Dyer,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Rhodes, 

Miss  Alice  Lane,  Miss  Annie  Woodward, 


20 


OTARTKR    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


Commiltce  on  Reception  of   Giitsts. 

R.   Henry  Hall,  Mayor,  Chairman. 

S.   Hopkins  Emery,  'Secretary. 

Charles  S.  Anthony,  Edward  H.  1'emple. 

Ripley  W.  Townsend.   President  of  the  Council. 
Ai.DEN  H.  Blakk,  Edward  A    Fay, 

E.   Clarence  Holt. 
Cornelius  White.  Nathan   S.  Williams, 

Edmund  H.   Benneit,  James  H.   Dean, 

W"  II. LI  AM   E.   Fuller,  John  W.  D.   Hall, 

Alfred  B.   Hodges,  Henry  M.  Loverinc, 

Ch.'Xrles  a.  Reed,  Edgar  H.   Reed, 

CtEorge  a.    Washburn. 


George  N.   Elmes, 
William   McAusland, 
A.  Gilberi'  Williams, 

Frederick  E.  Austin, 
Albert  M.  Clark, 
George  Ellam, 
GusTAVUS  T.   Fisher, 
Willis  K.   Hodciman, 
Charles  L.  Johnson, 
Noah   Lemaire, 
John  a.   Macdonald, 
Herbert  N.   Pierce, 
Henry  A.  Short, 


Aldermen. 


Council^nen, 


G.    Arthur    Lincoln, 
Benjamin  Morris, 
Arthur   K.  Williams. 


Frederick  V.  Brown, 
Marcus  A.  Dary, 
John  C.  Finn, 
John  T.  Franks, 
Thomas  F.   Hoye, 
''David  Johnson, 
James  H.  Lincoln, 
J.  Alfred  Messinger, 
WiNTHROP  A.   Robinson, 
Frederick  A.  Walker, 


Charles  E.  Mason. 

jldditional  Af embers  from    Taunton. 

Frederick  W.  Abpoti',  Arthur  M.  Alger, 

Ebenezer  C.  Arnold,  Henr\    D.  Atwood, 

George  H.   Babbitt,  Francis  S.   Babbitt, 

Anson  J.   Barker,  Grville  A.  Barker, 

Henry   P.  Barstow,  Josiah  C.   Bartlett, 
*l>pc{'it!«e(I. 


sun    COMMlirF.ES. 


21 


Committee  on  Reception  of 

Hknrv  F.   Basse'it, 
William   R.  Black, 
Alfred  Bkabrook, 
Isaac  B.   Brkuis, 
John  P.   Brown, 
Ansel  O.  Burt, 
Hopkins  B.  Cady, 
Daniel  Carkv, 
John  H.  Church, 
William   B.   Church. 
Walter  J.  Clemson, 
Henry  W.  Colby, 
William   (/ox, 
Henry  S.  Culver, 
James  M.  Cushman, 
Seth  L.  Cushman, 
Edwin  A.   Dary, 
Ezra  Davol, 
N.   Bradford  Dean, 
Samuel  A.   Dean, 
Jeremy  W.   Denneit, 
John   H.   Kldridge, 
Thomas  ().   Falvev, 
John  P.   Forbes, 
William    H.   Fox, 
Everett  D.  Godfrey, 
Chrisiopher  a.   Hack, 
Frederick  S.    Hall. 
Charles   F.   Hanson, 
Henr\    S.    Hari. 
John    T.    Hawkins, 
Lednakh   B.   Hiccins. 
Geo  ROE  F.    Howard, 
{■"rank    a.    Huisbard. 
Elisha    T.  Jackson. 
Charles   F.    Iohxsox. 


Guests  Continited. 

William   H.   Bent. 
William   F.   ?)Odfish, 
Geor(;e  Brakrook, 
James  Brown, 
Uharles  H.  Buffington, 

L.    Cl.OVIS    BUSSIERE, 

Geor(;e  C.  Capron, 
George  F.  Chace, 
LeBaron  B.  Church, 
Nathan  Clark, 
Geor(;e  W.  Colby, 
Peter  H.  Corr, 
Nathaniel  J.  Crossmax, 
Charles  Curtis, 
HoRAiTo  L.  Cushman, 
George  P.  Cutler, 
William  C.    Davenport, 
Charles  R.  Dean, 
Robert  S.  Dean, 
Heman  p.   Deforest, 
Horace  W.   Durgin, 
Abram    D.   Emery, 
Charles   H.   Field, 
Charles  Fostkr, 
Henry  J.   Fuller, 
'I'lMo  WW  Gordon, 
William    M.    Hai.i:. 
Herbert  E.   Hall. 
Edward  O.   Hari, 
loHN  W.   Hart, 
Joseph  W.   HA^wARD. 
Edwin   M.   Hills. 
Chari.es  'I'.    Hubbard, 
Edward  L.   Hyde, 
Edward  N.  Jennev, 
Ei.ijAH   U.  Jones, 


(KWKTIiK     MILLKXMAL    CELEIJKATIOX. 


Coiiimittec  on  Reception 

HowAR])  A.   L.   KiNc, 
JosKPH  Maurick  LaMo'ihe, 
Nathan  Lawrence, 
Hknrv  B.  Leach, 
Lorenzo  Lincoln, 
Charles  L.  Loverino, 
Donald  Macdougall, 
Edward  B.  Maltry, 
Frederick.  Mason, 
John  T.  Meats, 
Erastus  Morse, 
George  O.  Morse. 
Edward  Mott, 
Thompson  Newbury, 
NoMUS  Paige, 
Abel  W.  Parker, 
John  Paull, 
John  B.   Perkins, 
Joseph  Philbrick, 
Alfred  C.   Place, 
Franklin  Pratt, 
George  H.  Reed, 
John   D.  Reed, 
Marcus  M.   Rhodes, 
Charles  E.  Richmond. 
John  S.  Sampson, 
John  C.  Sharp,  Jr., 
Nathan  H.  Skinner, 
Leander  Soule, 
Abiel  B.  Siaples, 
Albert  E.  Swasey, 
l{i)\vi\  A.  'I'eilow, 
Charles  Thornton, 
Pt.ijah  Tolman, 
Salmon   \\'ashi;urn, 
Lloyd  E.  Whitk. 


of  Guests  Continued. 

John  Kittredge, 
Andrew  J.  Lawrence, 
Arunah  a.  Leach, 
Charles  H.  Learoyd, 
Thomas  J.  Lothrop, 
William  C.  Lovering, 
James  T.  Maher, 
Francis  Mansfield, 
Joseph  E.  McDonough. 
Daniel  L.  Mitchell, 
Francis  L.  Morse, 
Henry  W.  Morse, 
Joseph  Murphy, 
John  O'Hearne,  Jr., 
Onias  S.  Paige, 
Charles  H.  Paull, 
David  D.   Perkins, 
Parley  L   Perrin, 
William   H.   Phillips, 
William  H.  Pleadwell, 
Silas  D.   Presbrey, 
Henry  G.   Reed, 
William  Reed,  Jr., 
S.   Holbrook   Rhodes. 
James  F.   Roach, 
John  E.  Sanford, 
Zachel's  Sherman, 
WiLLiA.M  J.   Smith, 
Alfred  V.   Stall, 
Sylvanus  N.   Staples, 
John  P.  Swinerton, 
Sylvanus   M.   '1'ho.\ias, 
E.   Dawes  Tisdale, 
Daniel  A.  Trefeihen, 
LuiHER  B.  West, 
William   L.  W^hite. 


SUB    COMMITTEES. 


William   L.  Wmib;,  Jr.. 
Alexander   H.  Williams. 
Georce  B.  Williams, 
John   R.  Willl\ms, 
Nathan  Wilmarih, 
Joseph   K.   Wilson, 


JOSEI'H     E.    WlLHAK. 

A.  Kino  Williams, 
G.   Edgar  Williams. 
Lewis  Williams, 
George  C.  Wilson, 
George  M.   W(jod\vard. 


Other  members  of  the  Committee. 
Djghtoii,  James  H.  Coddin(;,    Charles  N.   Simmons, 
Berkley,   Herbert  A.   Dean,     Thomas  Paul, 
Xorton,    Geor(;e  R.  Perrv,       George  H.  Taliujt. 

Easton,  Mansfield  and  Raynham  failed  to  apppoint. 

N.  B,  Some  few  names  fail  to  appear  on  the  lists  of  com- 
mittees of  such  persons  as  fell  obliged  to  decline  serving.  This 
statement  is  made  to  explain  the  absence  of  certain  names,  which 
might  be  looked  for. 

Committee  of  /'u/i/ieatio/i. 


24  OUAKTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

PROCEEDINGS 

On   the  moniing  of  the  First  Day  in  Music  Hall. 


The  Literary  Exercises  of  the  Anniversary  were  begun  on 
the  morning  of  June  4th,  and  proceeded  in  accordance  with  the 
following 

PROGRAMME: 

"GLORIA,"  from  Mozart's  Twelfth  Mass., 

BEETHOVEN    SOCIETY.    - 

PRAYER. 

Rev.  SAMUEL  HOPKINS  EMERY. 

ADDRESS   OF  WELCOME. 
RICHARD    HENRY    HALL,    Mayor. 

••■|"hc  Heavens  are  Telling,"  from  Creation,    -----     Haydn. 
BEETHOVEN  SOCIETY. 

HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

Hon.    EDMUND    HATCH    BENNETT. 

"Star-Spangled  Banner," 

BEETHOVEN   SOCIETY. 

POEM. 
HENRY    WILLIAM    COLBY,    Es(j. 

CLOSING  HYMN. 

"America," 
I!KKrHOVp:N    SOCIETY    AND    ALT:)IENCE. 

.\cci)in|)anit;(l  l)y    Rkkn'Ks"    AmI'.kk'AN   Hand. 

BENEDICTION.! 
Rkv.  CHARLES   HENRY  LEAROYD. 


-^'"-■y^ 


PROCEEDINGS  AT  MUSIC  HALL 


On  the  moniing  of  the  first  day  of  the  celebration 
Music  Hall  was  crowded  with  spectators,  the  stage  filled 
with  ofificials  and  invited  guests  and  the  whole  scene  one  of 
the  grandest,  perhaps  in  all  respects  the  grandest,  in  the 
history  of  the  city.  The  proceedings  were  opened  with  the 
beautiful  "(rloria"  from  Mozart's  Twelfth  Mass  by  the 
chorus  and  orchestra.      It  was  magnificently  performed. 

The  Mayor  then  introduced  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery  as 
chaplain  of  the  day,  who  said  : 

Let  me  read  a  few  words  from  that  Blessed  Book,  which 
has  been  the  solace  and  strength  of  the  fathers  and  mothers 
of  New  England  in  all  its  generations — of  the  founders  and 
first  settlers  of  this  ancient  town  and  their  childrens'  child- 
ren down  to  the  present  time  ; 

We  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God,  our  fathers  have  told 
us,  what  work  thou  didst  in  their  days,  in  the  days  of  old.  Thou 
didst  drive  out  the  nations  with  thy  hand  and  plantedst  them  in. 
For  they  gat  not  the  land  in  possession  by  their  own  sword, 
neither  did  their  own  arm  save  them  ;  but  thy  right  hand  and  thine 
arm  and  the  light  of  thy  countenance,  because  thou  hadst  a 
favour  unto  them. 

That  which  we  have  heard  and  known,  and  our  fathers 
have  told  us,  we  will  not  hide  from  their  children,  telling 
to  the  generation  to  come,  the  praises  of  the  Lord,  and  his 
strength  and  his  wondrous  works  that  he  hath  done.  For  he 
established  a  testimony  in  Jacob  and  appointed  a  law  in  Israel, 
which  he  commanded  our  fathers,  that  they  should  make  them 
known  to  their  children,  that  the  generation  to  come  might  know 
them,  even  the  children    which  should  be  born,  who    should    arise 


26  OUAKTEK    .MILLENNIAL    CELEliRATlON. 

and  tell  them  to  their  children,  that  they  might  set  their  hope  in 
God  and  not  forget  the  works  of  God  but  keep  his  command- 
nients. 

The  reading  of  the  Scripture  lesson  was  followed  by 
prayer : 

God  of  our  fathers,  we,  their  children  and  thy  children, 
bow  reverently  and  humbly  before  Thee  on  this  glad  day. 
We  adore  the  riches  of  the  Divine  goodness  in  which  our 
God  hath  passed  before  us  and  those  who  have  preceded  us 
in  this  place,  lo,  these  two  hundred  and  fifty  years.  We 
this  day  review  these  centuries  of  busy  life  and  behold  them 
crowded  with  tokens  of  God's  care,  guiding  grace  and 
abundant  blessing.  We  unitedly  bring  our  tribute  of  thanks- 
giving and  praise.  We  thank  Thee,  Lord,  for  all  the  pre- 
cious memories  which  crowd  these  memorial  days.  We 
thank  Thee  for  the  re-union  of  long  separated  friends — for 
the  return  to  the  home  circle  of  such  as  years  ago  went  out 
from  us.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  coming  of  such  as 
represent  this  Commcjnwealth  and  the  sisterhood  of  states, 
in  their  various  departments  of  government,  in  their  industry 
and  in  their  social  life.  We  commend  to  Thee,  merciful 
Father,  our  general  government,  our  state  government,  the 
cities  and  towns  in  all  this  broad  land,  whilst  in  a  very 
special  manner  our  supplication  is  in  behalf  of  our  own  city, 
its  officers  and  its  people,  that,  as  Thou  hast  been  with  us  in 
the  generations  past.  Thou  wilt  never  lea\e  nor  forsake  in 
the  generations  to  come.  With  the  increase  of  our  popula- 
tion and  the  enlargement  of  material  resources,  grant,  Lord, 
the  still  greater  blessing  of  spiritual  growth — a  higher  civili- 
zation— a  nobler  manhood  and  womanhood — a  completer 
likeness  in  all  who  make  our  homes,  to  the  perfect  man, 
Christ  Jesus.  To  this  end,  let  all  our  schools  and  churches, 
and  home  training,  household  inHuences  conform  to  the 
teachings  of  the  Great  l^acher  and  be  under  the  inspiration 


MAYORS    ADDRESS.  2/ 

and  guidance  of  his  most  holy  religion.  Direct,  Lord,  in 
all  which  is  said  or  done,  this  day  and  this  hour.  All  which 
we  ask  in  his  most  worth\-  name,  who  hath  taught  us  to 
pra\',  saying. 

Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy 
name.  71i\"  kingdom  come,  Th}'  will  be  done  in  earth  as 
it  is  in  Heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.  And 
forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those  who  trespass 
against  us.  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us 
from  e\il.  For  Thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power  and 
the  glor\'  for  ever.    Amen. 

His  Honor,  Ma\"()r  Richard  Henr\'  Hall,  then  wel- 
comctl  the  sons  and  daughters,  friends  and  visitors  in  the 
following  words  : 

MAYOR'S   ADDRESS. 


Ladies  and  Gciitlimcn  : — 

It  falls  to  m\'  pleasant  lot  to  welcome  \'ou  to  the  cele- 
bration of  the  founding  of  the  ancient  town  of  Taunton. 
Two  hundred  and  \\\l\  years  on  the  page  of  the  world's 
history  seems  but  a  trifle,  and  \et  that  same  number  of 
years  in  the  histor\-  oi  our  own  town  carries  us  back  to  the 
earliest  davs  of  colonial  life.  How  changed  the  scene. 
How  different  the  condition  of  this  locality — its  inhabitants, 
its  industries  and  its  relations.  From  a  few  scattered  fami- 
lies, we  have  become  a  flourishing  city  of  twenty-six  thou- 
sand people. 

In  place  of  a  small  and  lowly  settlement  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest,  stands  to-day  a  thriving  municipalit}',  peopled 
by  a  bus}',  industrious  jjopulace.      Where  once  the    red  man 


28  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEHRATION. 

held  undisputed  sway,  and  the  sturdy  pioneers  tilled  the  soil, 
now  trades  and  pursuits  of  manifold  description  are  followed 
on  every  hand. 

Instead  of  a  barter  trade  confined  for  the  most  part  to 
the  indigenous  red  men,  have  si^rung  uj:)  commerce  and 
negotiations  with  a  thousand  and  one  distant  places.  We 
stand  to-day  a  prosperous  and  happy  communit}',  and  yet  the 
vast  change  which  has  been  wrought  in  this  long  span  of 
years,  has  not  easily  been  accomplished.  Our  dear  country 
has  taken  the  foremost  place  in  the  family  of  nations,  but 
with  what  sacrifices  has  this  been  done,  and  through  what 
an  ordeal  has  it  passed.  The  savages  who  once  roamed  at 
will  through  its  wilds,  haxe  been  driven  to  remote  regions 
and  well  nigh  exterminated. 

Two  dangers  which  assail  every  nation,  we  have  suc- 
cessfully met  and  passed. 

Foreign  invasion  will  no  longer  have  terrors  for  us,  and 
internal  strife  is  not  easily  renewed.  These  and  many 
other  obstacles  have  been  surmounted  in  our  nation's 
progress,  and  in  them  Taunton  has  taken  an  earnest  and 
active  part ;  and  so  she  may  fittingly  say  to-day  as  she  looks 
upon  her  fortunate  and  prosperous  peojjle,  "This  is  my 
reward.  " 

A  quarter  of  a  thousand  years  ha\e  passed.  It  is  very 
fitting  therefore,  at  this  time  for  us  to  pause  in  our  daily 
routine  of  duty,  to  forsake  our  fields,  our  work  shops  and 
])laces  of  business,  and  gather  here  in  the  observance  of  this 
natal  day  ;  and  as  we  have  been  guided  and  protected  b}' 
Divine  Providence  in  the  past,  may  we  humbly  claim  the 
same  guidance  in  the  future,  and  by  (lod's  blessing  continue 
a  united  and  ]M-osperous  people.  I  bid  you  all  a  most  hearty 
welcome.  To  the  daughter  towns,  who  for  many  years  were 
bound  to  us,  and  of   us  were  a  part,   but    who    now    lead    an 


HIS'I'OKICAI.    /XDnKESS.  2g 

independent  existence,  mother  Taunton  to-day  extends  her 
warmest  welcome.  She  bids  them  be  merry  with  her  in  the 
festivities  now  to  be  held,  for  to-day  ancient  Taunton  and 
our  present  city  join  hands  and  celebrate. 

To  the  most  distinguished  representatives  of  nation  and 
commonwealth  who  have  honored  us  by  their  presence  at 
this  observance  of  her  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  birthday,  I 
give  a  heartfelt  and  generous  welcome. 

To  a//  our  guests,  be  they  sons  or  daughters  of  Taun- 
ton, be  they  neighbors  or  from  distant  states,  whatever  may 
be  their  relations  to  us,  we  this  day  throw  open  the 
gates  of  the  citv,  and  bid  them  most  cordial  and  sincere 
greetina". 


The  Beethoven  Society  next  sung  "The  Heavens  are 
Telling;"  after  which  Mayor  Hall  introduced  the  orator  of 
the  day,  Hon.  Edmund  H.  Bennett  who  delivered  the  fol- 
lowing 

HISTORICAL   ADDRESS. 


Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Sons  and  Dano;Jiters  of  the  Aneient 
Tozvn  of  Taunton: — 
It  is  the  story  of  the  virtues  and  the  sufferings  of  that 
worthy  band,  which  so  successfully  laid  the  foundations  of 
this  community,  and  secured  for  us  the  manifold  blessings 
we  now  enjoy,  that  you  have  assembled  this  day  with  such 
tender  interest  to  hear.  The  presentation  of  such  a  subject, 
which  reaches  so  many  ears,  attracts  so  many  eyes,  and 
interests  so  many  hearts,  properly  belongs  to  some  one  who 
is  a  "native  here,  and  to  the  manor  born  ; "  some  one,  whose 
childhood  has  been  passed  in  your  daily  sight,   who  has  been 


30  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEHRATION. 

reared  amid  those  hallowed  memories  that  cling  around  your 
hearth-stones,  and  whose  ancestors  sleep  beneath  the  same 
sod,  side  by  side  with  your  own.  But  notwithstanding  the 
natural  hesitation  of  one  not  thus  blessed  to  undertake  so  deli- 
cate a  duty,  none  of  your  own  sons,  I  assure  you,  could  more 
highly  appreciate  the  honor  conferred  on  me  by  your  kind 
invitation  ;  not  the  least  of  many  others  received  during  my 
residence  among  you.  And,  conscious  of  my  own  inability 
to  adequately  present  so  eventful  a  subject  within  the  time 
allotted  me,  may  I  not  appropriately  add  one  more  peti- 
tion to  those  which  have  already  ascended  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace  from  the  lips  of  our  beloved  chaplain,  and  be  permit- 
ted to  repeat  those  devout  words  in  which  the  divine  poet 
introduced  his  more  exalted  theme  : — "  What  in  me  is  dark, 
Illumine;  what  is  low,  raise  and  support."  With  all  the 
aid  vouch.safed  me,  the  field  is  so  broad  and  the  period 
included  so  long,  I  shall  necessarily  weary  your  patience  in 
considering  matters  of  public  and  general  interest  only, 
and,  therefore,  I  reserve  for  an  appendix  many  minor  details, 
whatever  interest  they  might  have  for  some  here  present. 

But  I  must  hasten  to  the  immediate  topic  of  the  hour, 
the  treatment  of  which  naturally  assumes  a  more  narrative 
form  than  if  we  already  possessed  complete  local  histories, 
or  even  former  memorial  addresses  to  which  reference  might 
be  made. 

The  exact  date  of  the  first  settlement  of  Taunton  can 
not  now  be  ascertained,  and  the  loss  of  her  public  records 
by  the  disastrous  fire  of  r<S38  makes  it  difficult  to  satisfac- 
torily trace  her  early  history  and  progress.  Many  interest- 
ing facts  are  doubtless  now  wholly  lost,  while  many  others 
can  be  discovered  only  by  the  dim  light  thrown  upon  them 
from  various  collateral  sources.  But  it  is  well  known  that 
in  the  early  summer  of  162  i,  ere  the  Mavflowcrhad  scarcel}' 


iiisioKicAi.  AnDRESs.  31 

completed  her  first  return  voyage  to  the  mother-lancl,  two 
distinguished  pilgrims,  lulward  Winslow  and  Stephen  Hop- 
kins, whose  united  families  at  that  time  constituted  about 
one-fifth  of  the  entire  Plymouth  colony,  passed  through  this 
region  on  a  friendly  visit  to  Massasoit,  the  great  sachem  of 
the  Wampanoags.  He  had  himself  visited  Plymouth  in  the 
March  preceding,  and  had  there  entered  into  a  written  treaty 
of  peace  and  friendship  with  the  colonists,  which  was  ever 
after  called  "the  Peace  of  Plymouth;"  a  treaty  which  he 
faithfully  kept  until  his  dying  day  in  1660.  In  response  to 
his  friendly  advances,  Plymouth  now  sent  two  noble  messen- 
gers, laden  with  gifts,  to  enquire  after  the  health  and  wel- 
fare of  this  "greatest  commander  among  the  savages  here- 
abouts, "  and  to  renew  the  treaty  of  peace  and  amity  be- 
tween them.  So  far  as  positively  known,  theirs  were  the 
first  white  feet  that  ever  trod  our  soil. 

Under  the  guidance  of  a  friendly  Indian,  named  Squan- 
to  ;  the  same  Squanto  who  afterwards  taught  them  the  still 
prevailing  custom  of  fertilizing  each  hill  of  corn  with  a 
herring;  they  crossed  the  Great  River  on  Tuesday  morning 
July  3d,  1621,  at  a  "  knowne  shole  place,  "  probably  Shallow 
Water,  at  East  Taunton.^  Wending  their  way  along  the 
northwest  bank  of  the  river,  through  what  is  now  Dean 
street,  thence  by  the  Neck  o'  Land  to  Dighton  and  Somerset, 
they  struck  southwesterly  to  Pockanokick,  the  home  of  the 
Indian  Chief,  situated  in  what  is  now  Warren,  Rhode  Island, 
where  a  pure  spring  of  living  water  still  bears  the  name  of 
Massasoit's  spring. 

Probably,  they  followed  an  old  Indian  trail  leading  from 
Plymouth  to  the  Narragansett,  and  recently  there  have  been 
discovered  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Joseph  B.  Warner  in 
Dighton,  large  flat  stones  in  a  row,  through  wet  and  swampy 
places,  as  if  for  stepping  stones  for  the  traveller.   Winslow's 

1.    See  Appendix  A. 


32  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

description  of  the  country,  written  at  the  time,  contains 
these  words : — "  The  ground  is  very  good  on  both  sides  (of 
the  river),  it  being  for  the  most  part  cleered.  Thousands  of 
men  have  lived  there,  which  dyed  in  a  great  plague  not  long- 
since  ;  and  pitty  it  was,  and  is,  to  see  so  many  goodly 
fieldes,  and  so  well  seated,  without  men  to  dress  and  manure 
the  same.  *  *  *  *  There  is  much  good  timber,  both  Oake, 
Wallnut-trees,  Firre,  Beach,  and  exceeding  great  Chestnut 
trees.  The  country  in  respect  of  the  lying  of  it,  is  both 
champanie  and  hilly,  like  many  places  in  England.  "^ 

With  the  exception  of  Winslow's  account  of  a  subse- 
quent visit  to  Massasoit,  two  years  later,  we  have  no 
authentic  mention  of  this  locality  for  the  next  fifteen  years. 
The  growth  of  the  Plymouth  colony  was  slow  and  feeble, 
her  struggle  being  for  existence  rather  than  for  extension. 
Her  first  new  town  (Scituate)  was  not  created  until  October 
5,  1636,  by  which  time  the  younger  but  richer  Massachusetts 
colony  had  planted  nearly  a  score  of  flourishing  towns,^  had 
pushed  as  far  northerly  as  Dover,  N.  H.,  and  penetrated 
the  interior  to  Springfield,  and  even  into  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticut.  The  first  settlers  of  Taunton  also  came  chiefly 
from  the  Massachusetts  and  not  from  the  Plymouth  colony. 
They  came  over  in  the  Arbella,  and  the  Mary  and  John, 
rather  than  in  the  Mayflower  or  the  Fortune.  Of  all  the 
Massachusetts  towns  Dorchester  seems  to  have  been  the 
most  enterprising  in  planting  new  settlements,  and  as  early 
as  1637,  a  number  of  its  people,  "feeling  much  straitened  for 
want  of  room,  "  and  perhaps  having  their  attention  turned 
in  this  direction  by  the  extension  that  year  of  Dorchester 
bounds  southward  to  the  Old  Colony  line,  united  with  some 
others,  the  exact  number  is  uncertain,  in  purchasing  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  this  region,  intending  to  make  it  their  future 
home. 

1.  See  Appendix  B. 

2.  Certainly  IJoston,  Cambridfie,  Cliarlestown,  Concord,  Dedhani,  Borolipster, 
Hinf^hani,  Ipswich,  Lynn,  >ledfoi-d,  Newbury,  (Juincy,  Roxbnry,  Salem,  Springfield 
Watertown  and  Weynioutli,— tliough  not  clironolofiically  in  that  order. 


iiis'i'oRic.\[.   .\i)i)Ki:ss.  33 

Neitlic!"  the  original  deed  ot  this  purchase,  nor  an}'  rec- 
ord of  it,  can  now  be  found,  nor  is  its  exact  date  known  ;  but 
there  is  abundant  reason  to  believe  that  it  came  from  Mas- 
sasoit,  whose  Indian  name  was  Oiisamequin,  to  whom  the 
purchasers  paid  two  shillings  per  acre  on  their  home  lots  to 
extinguish  the  Indian  title.^  This  conveyance  was  confirm- 
ed in  1663,  by  his  son  Philip,  who  received  sixteen  pounds 
more.  Indeed  it  is  an  established  fact  that  our  forefathers 
never  took  possession  of  a  foot  of  land  in  this  colony,  which 
they  did  not  fairly  purchase  of  the  Indians,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Assonet  Neck,  and  some  other  similar  sections,  which 
they  were  not  allowed  to  buy,  but  which  were  confiscated  by 
the  Government  to  pay  the  expenses  of  King  Philip's  war, 
and  sold  by  the  Colony  to  individuals.  A  list  of  the  first  pur- 
chasers may  be  found  in  the  Proprietors'  Records,  now  in  the 
city  clerk's  office,  among  whom  we  find  the  prominent 
names  of  Richard  Williams,  George  Hall,  William  Poole, 
John  Deane,  John  Crosman,  Walter  Deane,  John  Gilbert, 
Henry  Andrews  and  William  Scaddinge,  from  whom  doubt- 
less that  lovely,  but  not  fully  appreciated  sheet  of  water, 
Scadding's  Pond,  derives  its  name.-  This  Richard  Williams, 
whose  many  descendants  have  led  honorable  and  useful 
lives  among  us  for  generations,  deserves  justly  to  l)e  called 
the  father  of  the  town,  or  certainly  one  of  the  most 
prominent  of  them. 

The  monument  to  Elizabeth  Poole,  now  stancHng  in  Mt. 
Pleasant  Cemetery,  erected  by  the  ladies  of  Taunton  in  1836, 
describes  her  in  glowing  eulogy  as  the  "Foundress  of  the 
Town  of  Taunton;"  but  her  name  nowhere  appears  as  one 
of  the  original  purchasers,  although  that  of  another  lady, 
"  Widdo  Randall,  "  does  ;  and  so  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  the 
popular  tradition  of  her  purchase  of  the  place  with    a    jack- 

1.  See  Appendix  C. 

2,  See  Appemlix  1). 


34  QUARTER    MILLEXMAT.    CELEBRATION. 

knife  and  a  peck  of  l^eans  must  be  ranked  with  the  legend 
of  Romulus  and  Remus  as  the  founders  of  Rome,  with  that 
of  William  Tell  as  the  deliverer  of  Switzerland,  or  that  of 
Pocahontas  as  the  saviour  of  Captain  Smith.'  But  notwith- 
standing the  doubt  that  Miss  Poole  can  justly  be  deemed  the 
"foundress"  of  the  town,  we  do  know  with  sufficient  cer- 
tainty that  she  was  born  of  noble  lineage  in  Devonshire, 
England,  on  the  25th  of  August,  1588;  that  when  nearly 
fifty  years  of  age  she  came  to  this  countr\-  with  her  younger 
brother  William,  and  after  a  short  tarry  in  Dorchester  re- 
moved to  Cohannet,  and  became  the  owner  of  much  land  in 
this  vicinity,  and  an  active  promoter  of  its  interests.-  Gov. 
Winthrop  says  (V'ol.  I,  p.  302)  under  date  of  1637,  "She 
went  late  thither,  and  endured  much  hardship  and  lost  much 
cattle. "  The  Poole  family  usually  spelled  their  name 
P-o-l-e,  and  the  plain  towards  Berkley  was  called  "Mrs. 
Pole's  plain,  "  easily  abbreviated  to  Pole  plain,  as  now  com- 
monly known.  Miss  Poole's  homestead  and  adjoining  land 
containing  about  twenty  acres,  was  on  the  south  side  of 
Main  street,  extending  from  the  Bristol  County  Bank  build- 
ing easterly  to  near  the  Leonard  Block,  and  bounded  on  the 
south  by  Mill  river.  F'rom  this  estate  she  remoA'ed  in  1653 
to  the  corner  of  Dean  and  Winter  streets,  at  or  near  the 
present  residence  of  James  H.  Dean,  Esq.  With  a  well 
earned  reputation  for  "Piety,  Liberality  and  Sanctity  of 
Manners,  "  she  departed  this  life  on  the  21st  of  May,  1654,  in 
the  sixty-sixth  year  of  her  age  ;  and  after  resting  in  her  own 
private  tomb  on  her  homestead  estate  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury, her  remains  were  removed  in  1771  to  the  Plain    Ceme- 

1,  The  romantic  story  that  Pocahontas  saved  the  life  of  Capt.  Smith  by  nishinj;' 
lietween  the  descending  war  club  of  her  father  and  the  head  of  his  captive,  rests 
upon  no  reliable  evidence.  She  was  only  thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
alleged  incident,  and  recently  published  documents  leaving  little  doubt  but  that  the 
story  is,  in  the  main,  a  fiction.  See  English  Colonization  of  America,  by  E.  1>.  Niell, 
1871:  Oeane's  E<lition  of  Wingfield's  Discourse  of  Virginia,  18.')!). 

2.  See  Ai)pendix  E. 


iiisrokic  \i.   ADORKss.  35 

tery  where  her  ashes  still  lie.  Her  virtues  deserve  to  be 
held  in  perpetual  reiriem])rance. 

We  know  but  little  of  the  events  of  these  first  years, 
but  we  learn  from  the  Plymouth  Colony  Records  (Vol.  I. 
p.  105)  that  on  the  4th  of  December,  1638,  seven  inhabi- 
tants of  Cohannet,  viz.  William  Poole,  John  Gilbert,  Sr., 
Henry  Andrews,  John  Strong,^  John  Deane,  Walter  Deane 
and  Edward  Case  were  admitted  and  sworn  as  freemen  of 
the  Colony,-  having-  been  propounded  for  that  office  some- 
time previously  ;  and  Mr.  Strong  was  sworn  as  constable  on 
the  same  day.  The  law  of  this  Colony  provided  that  "none 
could  be  admitted  as  freemen  but  such  as  are  one  and 
twenty  years  of  age,  at  the  least,  and  have  the  testimony  of 
their  neighbors  that  they  are  of  sober  and  peaceable  con- 
versation, Orthodox  in  the  P\mdamentals  of  Religion,  and 
such  as  have  also  Twenty  pounds  rateable  Estate,  at  the 
least,  in  the  Government.  "  (Ply.  Col.  Laws,  p.  258.)  No 
Unitarian,  Episcopalian  or  Quaker,  whatever  his  qualifica- 
tions, was  eligible  as  a  freeman  under  that  law.  The  Massa- 
chusetts Colony  was  even  more  strict.  There  all  freemen 
must  be  church  members,  and  not  only  so,  but  all  church 
members  must  become  freemen,  upon  penalty  of  being 
"dealt  with"  by  the  Church,  whatever  that  may  mean.  (4 
Mass.  Col.  Rec.  p.  420).  Ha})pily  such  regulations  did  not 
long  .survive. 

On  the  5th  of  March  following  the  admission  of  these 
seven  freemen,  viz.  1638,  (O.  S.)  we  read  that  "Captain 
Poole  was  ordered  to  exercise  the  inhabitants  of  Cohannett 
in  their  Armes.  "  (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  XI.  p.  31.)-^  Some  have 
thought  that  one  of  these  dates  should    have    been    selected 

1.  This  John  .Strong  came  to  Cohannet  from  Dorchester  and  originally  from 
Taunton,  England.  He  was  a  hrother-in-law  of  Walter  Deane,  and  the  father  of 
seventeen  children.    He  remained  here  only  a  few  years  and  removed  to  Nortliamiitoii 

2.  See  Api)endix  F. 

3.  See  Appendix  G. 


36  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEHRATION. 

for  our  celebration.  But  these  facts  do  not  necessarily 
prove  that  Cohannet  had  yet  any  separate  town  existence, 
since  all  the  freemen  of  the  colony,  whether  residing  in  in- 
corporated towns  or  unincorporated  precincts,  were  alike 
registered  as  freemen  at  l^lymouth,  and  were  alike  entitled 
to  vote  as  individuals  in  the  affairs  of  the  colony.  And  not 
only  were  the  inhabitants  of  tozons  liable  to  military  duty, 
but  also  "all  and  every  person  within  the  colony,  "^  whether 
in  towns  or  not.  Also  when  John  Strong  took  the  oath  as 
constable  in  December,  1638,  it  was  not  as  constable  of  the 
town  of  Cohannet,  but  only  of  the  ivard  of  Cohannet ;  where- 
as after  1639  the  records  describe  the  constable  as  of  the 
town  of  Taunton. 

Unfortunately  no  positive  vote  can  now  be  found,  ex- 
pressly incorporating  our  town  ;  but  we  soon  have  an  act  of 
the  General  Court  apparently  recognizing  it  as  such.  Pre- 
viously to  June,  1639,  t^""^  whole  body  of  freemen  assembled 
at  Plymouth  several  times  a  year,  to  regulate  the  affairs 
of  the  Colony ;  but  the  many  inconveniences  and  great  ex- 
pense to  which  the  freemen  were  thus  put  by  continual 
attendance  at  the  Court,  led  to  a  very  decided  change  in 
the  system  of  legislation,  and  what  had  been  heretofore  a 
pure  and  simple  democracy  became,  on  the  5th  of  March, 
1638,  a  true  representative  government.-  The  same  princi- 
ple had  been  introduced  into  the  Massachusetts  Colony  five 
years  earlier.  By  this  law  Plymouth  was  entitled  to  four 
"committeemen  or  deputies"  to  the  General  Court,  and 
every  other  town  to  two.  The  first  town  election  occurred 
soon  after,  and  on  the  4th  of  June  following  (1639,  ^-  S.) 
two  freemen  from  Cohannet,  viz :  John  Gilbert  and  Henry 
Andrews,  took  their  seats  in  the  General  Court  at  Plymouth 
as  our  first  representatives,  and  thus  our  existence  as  a    sep- 

1.  See  1  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  22,  A.  D.  1G33. 

2.  Passed  jVlnich  5,  1(;38,  ().  S.  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  XI,  i)p.  31-91-109.    Appendix  H. 


HISTORICAL    ADUKESS.  37 

arate  and  independent  township — the  iirst  inland  town  in  the 
Old  Colony — as  was  Concord  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony — 
seems  to  have  been  officially  recognized.  In  the  absence 
therefore  of  more  positive  data,  the  4th  of  June  1639  may 
not  inappropriately  be  treated  as  our  natal  day,  and  two 
hundred  and  fift}'  years  of  municipal  life  have  brought  us  to 
the  present   hour. 

Probably  the  early  settlers  of  this  region  came  largely 
from  the  southwest  of  England,  for  we  there  find  the  fami- 
liar nanies  of  Norton,  Dorchester,  Weymouth,  Wareham, 
Bridgewater,  Plymouth,  Barnstable,  Somerset,  Dartmouth, 
Berkley,  Tiverton,  surrounding  the  English  Taunton,  much 
as  do  their  namesakes  our  own  city  ;  and  the  settlers  of  Co- 
hannet  on  March  3,  1639,  (O-  ■'^•)  pi'ocured  the  name  to  be 
changed  to  Taunton,  as  they  themselves  say,  "in  honor  and 
love  to  our  dear  and  native  country.  " 

The  Indian  word  Cohannett  has  been  said  to  mean  the 
jjlace  of  snows,  or  snow-drifts,  a  name  not  inappropriately 
given,  since  one  of  her  prominent  citizens  died  during  the 
great  snow  storm  of  17  17.  "The  name  Taunton,  "  says  the 
late  Rev.  Mr.  Brigham,  in  an  interesting  paper  read  before 
the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  in  1859,  "is  genuine 
Gaelic;  Taun  meaning  'of  the  river;"  Taun-town,  a  town  on 
the  river — contracted  into  Taunton.  The  proper  pronuncia- 
tion of  this  word  is  still  a  mooted  question,  whether  it  is 
Ton,  Tawn,  or  Tarn.  The  most  common  usage  justifies  the 
last  sound. 

We  know  apprcxximately  the  location  of  the  first  meet- 
ing house,  and  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  the  exact 
situation  of  the  first  dwelling,  the  first  store  and  the  first 
school  house  ;  but  probably  it  is  now  impossible.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  the  first  block  house  or  garrison  house  stood  at 
or  near  the   site   of  the    present    Music    Hall,  on     Cohannet 


38  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

street  ;  and  it  is  tolerably  certain  that  after  our  fathers  had 
become  tired  of  going  on  foot  to  Pl)'mouth  or  Dorchester 
for  their  meal,  a  grist  mill  was  built  about  1652  or  1653,  by 
Thomas  Linkon,  on  the  west  side  of  Mill  river,  between 
Cohannet  and  Winthrop  streets,  which  was  afterwards  owned 
for  many  years  in  the  Crosman  family,  one  of  whom  built 
the  Crosman  house  still  standing  near  by,  which  was  such 
a  hospitable  resort  for  civil  and  military  officers  during  our 
Revolutionary  period.  Of  this  prominent  family,  probably 
Col.  Robert  Crosman,  and  his  son  Gen.  George  Hampden 
Crosman,  were  the  most  distinguished,  and  their  many 
descendants  are  still  among  us.  This  old  grist  mill  remain- 
ed on  the  same  site  until  1823,  and  the  first  saw  mill  was 
built  near  it  about  1659  by  Henry  Andrews  and  John  Mac- 
omber.^  This  saw  mill  appears  to  have  been  a  serious  ob- 
struction to  the  free  passage  of  the  herring,  for  on  June  6, 
1665,  William  W'itherill  and  three  others  were  fined  twenty 
shillings  for  breaking  down  the  saw  mill  dam  so  that  the  ale- 
wives  might  go  up  ;  and  thereupon  the  owners  of  the  mill 
were  ordered  by  the  General  Court  to  make  "a  free,  full  and 
sufficient  passage  for  the  fish  before  the  next  season." 
Thus  early  did  the  ale-wives  begin  to  vex  our  ancestors,  and 
the  day  of  deliverance  has  not  yet  come.-' 

THE    FIRST    RECORDED    ^LVRRI  ACiE 

was  on  Xo\ember  8,  1638,  between  Richard  Paul  and  Mar- 
gery Turner,  the  friend  of  Elizabeth  Poole,  and  to  whom  in 
her  last  will  she  left  a  "yearling  heifer.  "  The  next  spring- 
William  Hardy  and  Joanna  Hucker,  as  also  Thomas  Gilbert 
and  Jane  Rossiter,  joined  hands  ;  and  the  number  sj^eedily 
following  their  example  indicates  that  the\-  were  not  then 
l)erplexed  with  the  modern  stupid  L|uestion,  "  Is  marriage  a 
failure.'"      At  that    time  a  marriage  was  quite  an   undertak- 

1.  Soc  Aiipcmlix  I. 

2,  See  Appendix  J. 


}nST()kIC.\I.     ADDRESS.  39 

in^i;",  since  both  parties  must  tra\-el  to  Plynioutli  and  ha\e  the 
ceremony  performed  by  the  Governor  or  one  of  the  magis- 
trates. Ministers  were  not  allowed  to  solemnize  marriages 
in  the  colonial  days  }  but  ere  long  special  officers  were  ap- 
])ointed  in  each  town  for  that  purpose  ;  William  Parker  being 
the  first  marriage  officer  for  Taunton.  Neither  ministers  nor 
justices  of  the  peace  were  authorized  to  marry  until  1692.- 
Wedded  life,  however,  was  not  always  smooth  sailing  then, 
any  more  than  now;  for  in  1654  Joanna  Miller  of  Taunton, 
wife  of  Obadiah  Miller,  was  complained  of  f<jr  "beating  and 
reviling  her  husband,  and  egging  her  children  to  healp  her, 
biding  them  knock  him  in  the  head,  and  wishing  his  victials 
might  coake  him.  "  Mothers-in-law,  too,  then  as  now,  were 
not  without  their  troubles,  for  in  1650  William  Shepherd 
of  Taunton  was  convicted  and  publicly  whipped  for  purloin- 
ing from  his  wife's  mother.''  The  only  redeeming  trait  we 
find  in  this  ungrateful  son-in-law,  was  that  he  had  the  grace 
to  publicly  confess  his  offence  in  open  court,  and  return  the 
stolen  goods  ! 

Tine    FIRST    lilRI'll 

is  believed  to  ha\e  been  that  of  John  Deane,  son  of  the 
original  settler  of  that  name,  in  the  year  1639,  ^^^^^^  who,  as 
before  stated,  died  during  the  great  snow  storm  of  F'ebruary 
i(Sth,  17  17,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age:  his  fun- 
eral being  delayed  for  ten  days,  until  the  wav  to  the  burial 
ground  could  be  cleared  of  the  snow. 

The  first  death,  so  far  as  known,  was  that  of  Jt)hn 
Hr\ant,  one  of  the  first  purchasers,  who  died  April  28,  1638, 
(■?//<■/  ////.v  is  the  very  first  event  in  our  history  the  exact  date  of 
which  is  fositively  knoicii.  His  will  was  proved  at  Plymouth 
June  4th,  1638,  being  the  first  Cohannet  will  on  record. 
Miss  l\)ole  was  one  of  the  ajjpraisers  of  his  estate  (See  Ply. 
Col.  Rec.  of  Wills,  \'ol.   I,  p,  30.)      He  was  probably  buried 

1.  See  Appendix  K.  St.  1692,  c.  lTi.    '1.  W  I'ly.  Col.  Kec  p.  To.    W.  _•  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  149 


40  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

in  the  Neck-of-land  cemetery  on  Summer  street,  as  that  was 
the  first  burial  place  in  town  ;  although  no  stone  can  now 
be  found  therein  older  than  that  of  Elizabeth  Smith,  who 
died  January  31st,  1687  ;  while  the  Walker  burying  ground 
off  Somerset  avenue,  near  Dighton,  has  an  older  stone  erect- 
ed to  Elizabeth  Walker,  wife  of  the  first  James  Walker,  who 
died  August  14th,  1678,  and  //rr  grave  stone  has  the  oldest 
legible  inscription  in  this  town. 

The  office  of  town  clerk  was  created  in  1646,^  and  the 
first  clerk  was  Oliver  Purchis,  and  not  Shadrach  Wilbore,  as 
sometimes  supposed.  Mr.  Wilbore,  the  ancestor  of  our  ex- 
cellent Register  of  Deeds,  was  not  admitted  a  freeman  so 
early  as  1646,  whereas  Mr.  Purchis  became  such  that  very 
year,-  and  there  is  no  record  of  the  election  of  Mr.  Wilbore 
as  clerk  before  1664,  at  or  about  which  time  Mr.  Purchis 
moved  to  Lynn.  Probably  each  town  in  its  first  efforts  at 
self  government  chose  some  of  its  })rincipal  freemen,  "to 
order  the  special  affairs  thereof,  "  who  were  called  "selected 
towns  men,"  but  the  law  requiring  towns  to  elect  three  or 
five  selectmen,  "  such  as  shall  be  approved  by  the  Court,  " 
and  giving  them  many  judicial  powers  and  duties,  was  passed 
in  1665,  and  the  first  "  Celect  Men"  under  that  law,  were 
George  Hall,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  James  Walker 
and  William  Harvey,  approved  by  the  (ieneral  Court,  June 
5,  1 666.-' 

We  all  know  that  Rev.  William  Hook  was  the  first 
"pastor,  "  and  Re\'.  Nicholas  Street  his  assistant  was  "teach- 
er, "  and  afterwards  liis  full  successor.  J^oth  were  eminent 
men  of  their  time.  Mr.  Hook's  lot  was  next  south  of  Miss 
Poole's  estate,  on  what  is  now  .Summer  street,  not  unlikely 
where  the  City  ilall  now  stands.  Mr.  Street's  liouse  was 
on  cornel"  of  .Spring  and  .Smnnier  strei'ts,  next  to  Mi'.  Hook's; 

J.    Src  Ajiiii'iKlix  1,.  2,    U  I'ly.  Col.  1!<'<'.  ]).  101. 

;j.      1  l-ly.  Cdl.  lice.   ],.  I.'l,  A)iiHMi!li.\    L  :!. 


IlLSTOKICAI.    ADDRESS.  4 1 

the  bridge  over  the  river,  near  the  A.  Field  tack  works, 
was  called  "  Street's  Bridge.  "  The  first  meeting  house  was 
built  as  early  as  1647,  and  perhaps  earlier,  by  Henry  An- 
drews, one  of  the  original  settlers,  and  one  of  the  first 
de]nities  to  the  General  Court,  as  before  stated.  He  was 
paid  for  the  same  in  1647  by  a  grant  of  land  at  Namasket 
Pond,  called  the  Calf  pasture.^  No  doubt  this  house  stood 
at  the  head  of  Spring  street,  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent Unitarian  Church,  and  was  the  only  place  of  worship 
for  nearly  a  century ;  the  second  house  being  erected  in 
1729,  and  the  third  in  1789,  which  was  removed  for  the 
present  attractive  edifice  in  1830.  Probably  the  first  dea- 
cons were  Richard  Williams  and  Walter  Deane ;  certainly 
they  were  such  in  1654,  in  which  year  Elizabeth  Poole  died 
giving  the  church  a  legacy  of  her  best  cow;  and  mentioning 
deacons  Richand  Williams  and  Walter  Dean  as  her  "over- 
seers. "  Without  depreciating  the  efforts  oi  others,  every 
citizen  (jf  Taunton  must  realize  how  much  we  are  indebted 
for  our  early  position  and  character  in  the  Old  Colony  to  those 
worthy  families  which  boic  the  names  of  Williams,  Dean, 
Hall,  Leonard,  Gilbert,  Crosman,  Lincoln,  Walker  and  Wil- 
bore. 

Taunton's   iron  works — 1656. 

We  know  but  little  nKjre  of  these  times  until  1652, 
when  a  very  important  event  occurred  in  our  infant  tcnvn. 

As  early  as  1643  the  manufacture  of  bar  iron,  from  na- 
tive or  bog  ore,  had  commenced  in  L}nn,  on  the  Saugus, 
and  not  long  afterwards  in  Hraintree,  on  the  Monanticut ;  and 
the  discovery  of  iron  ore  on  the  banks  of  the  Two  Mile  river 
in  Taunton  stimulated  our  forefathers  to  attemjjt  the  same 
industry  here.  Several  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  place, 
including  George  Hall,     Richard    Williams.    Walter    Deane, 

I .    See  Appendix  M. 


42  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    C  LLEIik  AT  ION. 

James  Walker,  Oliver  Purchis,  l^lizabeth  Poole  and  others 
formed  a  joint  stock  compan)',  with  a  capital  of  ^,600,  and 
built  a  dam  across  the  Two  Mile  river,  on  the  main  road 
leading  to  Raynham,  and  made  all  the  preparations  for  the 
manufacture  of  bar  iron  from  bog  ore.  Prominent  among 
them  was  (jeorge  Hall,  the  first  clerk  and  manager  of  the 
company  for  many  years,  and  the  first  "  celectman "  of 
Taunton.  He  continued  to  be  an  influential  man  in  all  town 
affairs  until  the  day  of  his  death.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to 
say  he  was  the  ancestor  of  our  esteemed,  efficient  and 
worthy  Mayor  and  president  of  the  day. 

To  secure  experienced  workmen  for  this  new  industry, 
the  town  voted  on  the  21st  of  October,  1652,  to  invite  three 
workmen  from  Braintree,  viz.  Henry  Leonard  and  his  broth- 
er James,  and  one  Ralph  Russell,  "to  come  hither,  and  join 
with  certain  of  our  inhabitants  to  set  up  a  Hloomery  work 
on  the  Two  Mile  River.  "^  At  that  time  no  person  could 
become  a  citizen  of  any  town  except  by  permission  of  the 
same.  If  the  above  named  three  persons  all  came  to  Tami- 
ton,  Henry  Leonard  and  Russell  did  not  long  remain,  tor 
Leonard  is  known  to  have  resided  in  Lynn  as  early  as  1665, 
and  Russell's  name  does  not  subsequently  a})pear  associated 
with  the  enterprise.  It  would  seem  that  James  alone  re- 
mained, for  on  June  ^d,  1655,  the  town  con\e3'ed  to  him 
individually  about  fifteen  acres  of  land  on  the  east  side  ot 
the  P\)rge  l^ond  on  the  Bloomery,  situated  next  to  the  old 
])()nd  adjoining  the  road  to  Raynham.  (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  of 
Deeds,  Vol.   IIP  Part   i,  p.  47.) 

The  preparations  for  this  enterprise  required  some 
lime,  and  it  was  not  until  1656  that'the  manufacture  of  iron 
actualh'  commenced,  and  soon  afterwards  bar  iron  became  a 
circulating  medium  in  this  communit)'  in  place  of  monev, 
and  so  continued  for  many   years.      As    disaster    soon    o\'er- 

1 .     ^fc  .\ii|ipii(lix  N. 


HISTORICAL    ADnkF.SS.  43 

took  the  earlier  works  at  Lynn  and  Hraintree,  our  own  may 
justly  be  considered  the  first  pcnnaiunt  sncccssfiil  iron  icorks 
ill  this  country. 

James  Leonard  above  mentioned  was  first  employed  as 
a  forgfeman  or  "bloomer"  therein;  afterwards  he  became 
part  owner,  and  his  son  Thomas,  distinguished  in  many 
ways,  was  a  subsequent  manai;'er  of  the  works  ;  and  for  many 
years  the  Leonard  famil}-  were  prominently  connected  with 
the  establishment.  In  1777  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Hon.  Josiah  Dean,  who  converted  it  into  a  rolling  mill  and 
nail  works,  and  also  for  making  copper  bolts  for  shipbuild- 
ing, the  first  manufacture  of  this  kind  in  this  vicinity.  It 
continued  in  the  Dean  famih'  for  three  generations,  and  in 
1825  was  changed  into  an  anchor  forge,  and  it  is  onl}'  with- 
in a  few  years,  as  most  of  you  know,  that  the  foundations 
have  been  demolished.  These  iron  works  were  so  much 
favored  by  the  Government,  that  in  1655,  and  again  in  1662, 
the  "bloomers"  emploNcd  therein,  were  e.\em})ted  from  mili- 
tary duty  "unless  upon  some  spetiall  occasion  of  watching 
that  may  arise.  "      (3  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  89;  4  Id.   15.) 

Other  iron  works  soon  followed  ;  (Mie  at  "  W'hittington  " 
in  operation  as  earl)'  as  1678,  b}'  James  Leonard,  who  had 
left  the  first  works  ;  another  about  1695,  on  Three  Mile  river 
near  the  Dighton  line,  on  or  near  the  present  site  of  the 
North  Dighton  Furnace,  built  by  Richard  Stephens  and 
others  ;  again  in  1696  the  "  Chartle}'  Iron  Works"  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town,  on  Stony  Brook,  b\-  Thomas  and 
James  Leonard,  afterwards  called  the  Leonard  Iron  Works  ; 
am^ther  in  1723-4011  Littleworth  Hrook  at  luist  Taunton 
by  Capt.  John  King  and  others,  and  called  "  King's  Fur- 
nace, "  which  made  the  first  iron  hollow  ware  in  the  Old 
Colony.  This  establishment  was  afterwards  converted  into 
a  box   board  mill,  and  is  now  owned  b\'  Xathan  S.  Williams. 


44  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Miss  Poole  formerly  owned  land  on  this  stream,  and 
with  her  brother  William  had  a  grist  mill  there  near  King''s 
Furnace,  vestiges  of  which  may  still  be  seen.  The  sixth 
ancient  iron  establishment  on  Mill  river,  below  Reed  &  Bar- 
ton's works,  was  built  in  1739-40,  by  Capt.  Zephaniah 
Leonard,  named  the  "Hopewell  Iron  Works,  "  a  rolling  and 
slitting  mill  succeeding  it  about  I'j'jG-'j. 

Still  another  iron  establishment  was  the  Baylies  Iron 
Works  on  Three  Mile  river  at  Westville,  built  by  Messrs. 
Bollan  and  Laughton,  as  early  as  1738  or  '39,  operated 
awhile  by  Thomas  Baylies,  Jr.,  as  iron-master,  afterwards 
owned  by  his  brother  Nicholas,  from  whom  it  passed  to  his 
youngest  son,  Hodijah,  who  much  enlarged  the  establish- 
ment, and  conducted  it  successfully  for  many  years  ;  in  that 
period  making  for  the  frigate  "Constitution,  "  an  anchor  so 
large  as  to  require  ten  yoke  of  cattle  for  its  transportation 
to  tide  water  at  Uighton. 

We  are  indebted  for  most  of  the  foregoing  facts  to  the 
indefatigable  secretary  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society, 
who  unites  in  himself  the  name  and  the  blood  of  several  of 
our  ancient  and  most  distinguished  families,  John  Williams 
Dean  Hall.^ 

With  such  an  early  education  and  long  e.\|)erience  in 
the  manufacture  of  iron,  it  is  not  strange  that  it  should  be- 
come a  flourishing  industry  among  us,  and  go  on  inci"eas- 
ing  in  x'olume  until  its  present  j^roduct,  including  tacks  and 
small  nails,  exceeds  the  sum  of  S2, 000,000  annually. 

TATNTON     XORMI     I'lKi  HASK 1668. 

The  fii"st  ])urchase,  above  spoken  of,  resembled  in  shai)e 
a  rhombus,  oi-  diamond  like  tract,  with  ]xvrallel  sides,  but  no 
right  angles,  having  its  noiliierly  corner  oi"  apex  near  the 
center   of  tlie    town    of   MansHeld.      This    was  called  "  Cob- 

1.     See  a  very  iiitcn'stiiigarticlt' liy  liiiii,  ic;iil  liflorc    tlii'    Old    Cdloiiy    Historical 
Society  in  18«4,  and  jinblislicd  in  No. :!  ol  tlifjr  corn'ctioiis. 


IIISIOKICAI.     ADDKI'.SS.  45 

blcr's  Corner,  "  because,  as  it  is  said,  wlien  Miles  Standish 
and  his  men  i"an  out  tlie  houndai"}'  line  in  1640,  one  of  them 
mended  or  cobbled  his  shoes  at  this  spot.  The  extreme 
southerly  point  was  near  the  Lakeville  line,  the  easterly 
corner  in  the  edge  of  Bridgewater,  near  Nipenicket  Pond, 
and  the  westerly  angle  at  the  point  where  Taunton,  Digh- 
ton  and  Rehoboth  all  meet.  It  was  eight  miles  Ion":  on 
every  side,  and  generally  called  "The  Eight  Mile  Purchase," 
or  the  "Long  Square,"  and  contained  about  sixty-four 
square  miles,  or  over  40,000  acres. ^ 

Notwithstanding  the  extent  of  this  first  purchase,  our 
early  settlers  soon  became  anxious  for  more  land,  especially 
pasture  and  meadow  land,  and  in  1640,  '43,  '63  and  '65  vari- 
ous additions  were  made  to  the  original  territory  mostly  on 
the  southerly  side  towards  Assonet ;-  but  the  second  great 
addition  was  made  in  June,  1668,  called  the  Taunton  North 
Purchase,  being  the  land  surrounding  the  northwesterly  end 
of  the  old  Town,  and  extending  northerly  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony  line,  which  is  now  the  southerly  line  of  the 
towns  of  Stoughton,  Sharon  and  Foxboro'. 

This  second  purchase  was  bounded  easterly  by  Bridge- 
water,  southerly  by  the  First  Purchase,  and  westerly  by 
Rehoboth,  now  Attleboro'.-^  The  northerly  line  was  twelve 
miles  long,  the  east  and  west  lines  about  seven,  while  the 
south  line  was  made  by  the  apex  of  the  old  town  projecting 
into  it.  The  tract  contained  about  sixty  square  miles,  or 
thirty-eight  thousand  acres,  and  cost  one  hundred  pounds. 
Dorchester  and  Taunton  were  thus  made  adjoining  towns, 
and  so  continued  for  nearly  half  a  centur}-. 

TAUNTON    -SOUTH    PURCHA.SE 16/2. 

But  our  ambitious  forefathers  were  not  yet  satisfied. 
In  less  than  four  years  after  the  North  Purchase,  they    were 

1.    See  AppentUx  O.  2.    See  Appendix  P.  3.    See  Appendix  (J. 


46  QUARTER     MILLF.XNIAI,    CET.KRR  ATION. 

looking  with  longing  eyes  to  the  fertile  lands  southerly  along 
the  banks  of  the  Great  river  ;  and  after  several  negotiations, 
another  tract  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  described  as  four 
miles  square,  though  somewhat  more,  was  bought  of  King 
Philip  for  one  hundred  and  ninety  pounds,  and  eighty-three 
]50unds  more  was  paid  for  a  mortgage  on  the  same  tract,  pre- 
viously given  by  King  Philip  to  the  Plymouth  Colony  and 
by  its  Treasurer  assigned  to  the  purchasers.  This  embraced 
the  territory  now  constituting  the  town  of  Dighton,  and 
contained  at  least  sixteen  square  miles.'  These  several 
•purchases  with  some  subsequent  additions  towards  Assonet 
Neck,  the  whole  embracing  about  one  hundred  and  fift}' 
square  miles  or  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  acres,  (consid- 
erably larger  than  the  District  of  Columbia,)  and  comprising 
the  present  towns  of  Norton,  Easton,  Mansfield,  Raynham, 
Dighton  and  Berkley,  constituted  the  entire  township  of 
l^aunton  until  171 1.  Therefore  we  gladly  welcome  the  peo- 
\)\c  of  these  towns  as  jointly  interested  with  us  in  the  cele- 
bration of  this  day. 

KING  Philip's    war — 1675. 

But  we  must  hasten  on  to  more  stirring  e\'ents.  Thus 
far  peace  and  prosperity  have  attended  the  Colonists'  path, 
but  trying  times  are  now  before  them.  King  Philip,  the 
most  wily  and  sagacious  of  his  race,  becoming  restive  under 
the  constant  advance  of  the  white  settlers,  resolved  upon 
their  extermination.  It  is  an  error  to  suppose  that  Philip 
was  justified  in  any  degree  by  encroachments  of  the  white 
peo])le  upon  Indian  lands.  (iov.  Josiah  W'inslow,  in  a  letter 
of  May  I,  1676,  says: — "  Because  some  of  our  jieople  are 
of  a  covetous  disposition,  and  the  Indians  are  in  their 
streets  (straits)  easily  ]:)revailed  with  to  ])art  with  their  lands, 
we  first  made  a  law  that  none  should  purchase,  or  receive  of 

1.     Soc  A]iiicii(Iix  li. 


IIISIOKUAI,     AOORKSS.  47 

.<i,-ift  an)-  land  of  the  Indians,  without  the  kno\vlc(li;-e  and 
allowance  of  our  Court,  and  jienalty  of  a  fine  of  five  pounds 
j)er  acre,  for  all  that  should  be  so  bought  or  obtained.  And 
lest  yet  they  should  be  streightened,  we  ordered  that  Mount 
Hope,  Pocasset,  and  several  other  necks  of  the  best  land  in 
the  Colon}-  (because  more  suitable  and  con\'enient  for  theni) 
should  never  be  bought  out  of  their  hands,  or  else  the\- 
would  have  sold  them  long  since.  "' 

Doubtless  Philip  felt  that  his  own  race  must  melt 
away  before  the  superior  intelligence  and  more  regular  and 
industrious  habits  of  the  white  people.  Hostilities  were 
imminent,  but  mediation  was  first  attempted.  In  the  little 
church  at  the  head  of  Spring  street  on  April  loth,  1671. 
an  interview  took  place  between  King  Philip  and  three  Com- 
missioners from  Plymouth,  viz :  Gov.  Prince,  Josiah  Wins- 
low  and  Constant  Southworth,  at  which  also  were  three 
Commissioners  from  Massachusetts,  viz.:  William  Davis, 
William  Hudson,  and  Thomas  Brattle  ;  sent  at  the  request 
of  the  Plymouth  Colony  to  negotiate  between  the  contend- 
ing parties.  King  Philip  and  his  men  in  their  war  paint 
came  into  town  by  Cohannet  street,  past  the  old  grist  mill 
to  the  Green,  and  all  parties  adjourned  to  the  meeting  house. 
There  the  most  singular  scene  took  place  ever  witnessed  in 
this  region.  "On  the  one  side  of  the  Church,"  says  the  his- 
torian Barry,  "were  the  English,  wearing  the  distinguishing- 
garb  of  their  day,  with  solemn  faces  and  close  shorn  hair  ; 
on  the  other  were  the  Indians  in  the  loose  dress  of  theii- 
country,  adorned  with  wani])um  and  all  the  finerv  in  which 
savages  delight,  their  long  black  hair  hanging  down  their 
back,  and  their  small  sunken  eyes  gleaming  like  coals  of 
fire."  The  old  church  had  never  seen  such  a  congregation 
before.  Philip,  at  first  denying  that  he  had  any  hostile  in- 
tentions, at  length  admitted  that  he  was  collecting  arms  and 

1.    Mather's  Indian  Wars,  Postscript,  ]>,,'•. 


48  OUARTRR     MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ammunition  for  an  attack  upon  Taunton  and  other  villages. 
He  was  compelled  to  surrender  about  seventy  guns  into  the 
hands  of  the  commissioners,  and  promised  better  behavior 
for  the  future.^  But  the  truce  soon  failed.  The  issue  was 
too  vital  to  be  settled  except  by  force  of  arms  ;  and  in  the 
long  and  bloody  conflict  that  ensued,  costing  over  six  hun- 
dred lives,  half  a  million  of  dollars,  (of  which  Taunton  con- 
tributed over  three  hundred  and  twenty-seven  pounds)  and 
the  total  or  partial  destruction  of  fifty-three  towns,  Taunton, 
from  its  central  position  was  the  chosen  rendezvous  of  the 
troops  from  Ph'mouth,  Boston  and  elsewhere.  For  the  same 
reason  it  was  a  constant  point  of  attack  by  the  savages,  and 
several  of  its  dwellings  were  consumed,  and  their  inmates 
cruelly  butchered ;  among  others  John  Tisdale,  James 
Phillips,  Henr)'  Andrews  and  Edward  Bobit.  The  danger 
of  the  entire  destruction  of  the  village  was  so  imminent  that 
the  Cape  towns  actually  invited  all  our  people  to  remove 
thither  until  the  war  was  over.  This  offer  was  declined  by 
Taunton  people  in  a  letter  full  of  thankfulness  to  their 
friends,  and  with  a  firm  reliance  upon  the  Lord  God  of 
Hosts,  for  final  deliverance  from  all  their  perils. - 

As  might  be  expected,  the  Anglo-Saxon  blood  soon  be- 
came dominant ;  and  in  August,  1676,  twenty  men  from 
Taunton,  under  the  guidance  of  a  friendly  Indian,  attacked 
a  bodv  of  the  sax'ages  at  Gardiner's  Neck  and  put  them  to 
utter  rout  ;  and  their  squaw-Sachem,  Weetamoe,  formerly 
the  wife  of  Alexander,  sister-in-law  of  King  Phili]),  in 
attempting  to  swim  the  (ireat  river,  perished  in  her  flight. 
A  few  days  after,  by  the  death  of  Phili]),  and  the  capture  of 
Annawan  by  Captain  Church  at  Rehoboth,  this  sanguinar)- 
conflict  was  terminated  and  our  land  had  peace. 

1.  Sec  Ai)iieiulix  S. 

2.  See  Appendix  T. 


HISTORICAL     ADOKESS.  49 

FREE    SCHOOLS I  677. 

Whatever  reason  there  is  for  believing  that  some  school 
had  been  kept  by  "  Master  John  Bishop  "  at  the  earliest  set- 
tlement of  the  town,  the  year  1677  is  memorable  for  the  in- 
auguration of  the  Free  School  System  in  the  Old  Colony, 
which,  notwithstanding  its  many  imperfections,  has  doubtless 
done  more  than  any  human  agency  to  improve  and  elevate 
the  great  body  of  our  people.  By  a  law  passed  that  year  it 
was  provided  that,  "  In  whatever  Township  consisting  of 
fifty  families,  or  upwards,  any  meet  man  shall  be  obtained  to 
keep  a  Grammar  School,  such  Township  shall  allow  at  least 
twelve  pounds  to  be  raised  by  rate  on  all  the  inhabitants  ; 
and  the  profits  of  the  Cape  Fishery  shall  be  distributed  to 
such  towns  as  have  such  grammar  schools,  not  to  exceed  fi\'e 
pounds  per  annum  to  any  one  town.  "^  No  doubt  Taunton 
availed  itself  of  this  law,  for  in  1683  she  received  three 
pounds  of  the  Cape  Fishery  money  for  her  "  scoole,  "  then 
kept  by  Mr.  James  Green,  who  was  paid  mostly  in  bar  iron  ; 
and  in  1685  good  Parson  Shove  tells  us  that  "Taunton  has 
eighty  scholars  on  her  list,  some  of  whom  have  entered 
Latin.  "  We  have  lived  to  see  in  one-seventh  of  the  old 
town,  forty-five  hundred  scholars,  nearly  a  hundred  teachers, 
and  over  thirty  school  houses,  representing  an  estimated 
value  of  more  than  5300,000,  all  maintained  at  an  expense 
of  over  S6o,ooo  annually.  "Though  thy  beginning  was 
small,  thy  latter  end  hath  greatly  increased.  " 

TAUXTOX'S    RESISTAXCE    TO    COY.     AXDROS 1686. 

But  soon  another  cloud  appeared  on  our  northern  bor- 
der. In  1684  the  Massachusetts  Charter  was  falsely  de- 
clared forfeited  ;  and  Gov.  Edmund  Andros  having  been 
appointed  Governor  over  the  whole  of  New  F2ngiand,  com- 
menced his  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  measures.      One    of  the 

L    See  Ai>]ienilix  I'. 


50  OUAK'n:R     MII.I.F.NNIAI.    CELEBRATION. 

first  was  to  le\'\'  a  tax  of  tvvent}'  cents  on  each  j^oll,  and  one 
pennv  in  the  pound  upon  all  the  property  in  the  late  Col- 
onies and  Pro\'inees.  Hut  the  people  of  Taunton  replied  to 
him.  thev  did  not  "feel  free  to  raise  money  on  the  inhahi- 
tants  without  their  own  assent  in  an  assembly.  "'  For  trans- 
mitting; this  spirited  answer  to  John  ITsher,  the  Treasurer, 
our  Town  Clerk,  Shadrach  Wilbore,  was  fined  twenty  marks, 
and  imjirisoned  for  three  months  in  i^oston  and  in  jail  at 
Bristol.  In  less  than  two  years  from  that  time  Andros  was 
himself  on  his  way  to  Eng^land  under  arrest  to  answer  for 
his  misdeeds,  and  Wilbore  received  from  his  i;rateful  towns- 
men one  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Cotley,  "in  consideration 
of  his  imprisonment  and  suffering.  "- 

rALXTOX    SHII'-P.UII.DlXCi I  7OO. 

In  the  year  1699,  Thomas  Coram,''  who  had  previous!}' 
come  to  this  country  from  Dorsetshire,  England,  bought  a 
tract  of  land  of  John  Reed  on  the  west  side  of  Taunton 
river,  and  established  a  ship-yard  in  South  Dighton,  at  or 
near  what  is  now  sometimes  called  Bragg's  ship-yard,  being- 
south  of  the  town-landing,  near  the  end  of  the  road  leading 
from  Dighton  Four  Corners  to  the  river,  at  the  place  now 
George  A.  Shove's  homestead,  a  descendant  of  the  Rev. 
George  Shove,  our  third  minister.  Here  he  built  several 
ships  and  laid  the  foundation  of  that  industr\'  which 
flourished  for  many  )'ears  in  this  vicinit\-  ;  and  although 
actual  ship-building  has  been  discontinued  in  this  town,  t)iu' 
shipping  interests  hax'c  so  largcl\-  increased  that  Taunton  is 
the  owner  in  whole  or  in  |)art  of  o\er  fifty  vessels  of  differ- 
ent kinds,  with  a  combined  tonnage  said  to  exceed  that  of 
an\  i(i(ist-ii.'i.u-  shi])))ing  list  in  an)'  othei"  cit\'    of   New    Eng- 

1.  :i  I'iillrey's  \.  K,  p.  n.iij.     l!cv<p|iiti<iii  .Ins^titied,  pp.  Ki,  H. 

2.  See  .\|>i>('ii(li.\  \ . 

;;.  An  iuteresting  pai)er  on  Tliomas  Corani,  !iy  tlie  Hon.  ("Iiarles  A.  Reed,  of 
'raunton,  may  be  lonnd  in  tlie  Old  Col.  Hist.  Src.  I'apers.  N'o.  •_'.  A  nnniber  of  roiaiu'si 
lettfTM  are  in  "  The  Davis  I'apeis, ''  in  the  .Mass,  Hist.  Society  Lilivaiy,  Boston. 


IIISIOKICAI,     ADDkF.SS.  5  I 

land.  It  may  not  be  uninteresting'  in  this  connection  to  state, 
that  notwithstancHn,!;"  the  Lceneral  disapproval  of  lotteries  at 
the  ])resent  (la\',  e\en  toi"  worths'  objects,  our  pious  tore- 
talhers  frequenth'  resorted  to  them  on  s])ecial  occasions;  and 
in  1760  a  law  was  ])asse(l  authorizinj;'  James  Williams, 
("ieorL;"e  Williams,  Kobert  Luscomb  and  John  Adam  of 
I'aunton  and  Ste])hen  J-5urt  of  Berkley,  to  establish  a  lot- 
tery for  the  ):)urpose  of  raisinj;'  three  hundred  and  tift\' 
i:)()unds  to  remo\'e  the  rocks  and  shoals  from  i'aunton  (ireat 
ri\'er  "between  the  Ware  Bridge  and  Rock\'  l^)int.  "'  i'he 
first  Weir  Bridge  had  been  built  about  1667,  the  (jeneral 
Couit  allowing  tweh'e  poimds  toward  the  same  out  of  the  pub- 
lic treasur}-.  The  lottei\-  was  established,  and  jirinted  tick- 
ets were  issued,  one  of  which  1  now  ha\"e  before  me.  How 
successful  the  lottery  pro\'ed  to  be  in  clearing  the  river  ma)' 
be  understood  when  we  know  that  since  that  time  the  gen- 
eral government  has  spent  §250,000,  for  the  same  purpose, 
besides  indi\'idual  expenditures  by  parties  interested  ;  and 
these  improAcments  are  not  yet  complete. 

IXCORFORA'riOX  OF  XOKTOX  AXD  OTHER  TOWXS I/I'-SS- 

Our  history  records  no  other  interesting  e\'ents  until 
about  1710,  when  a  i)eriod  of  twentv-hve  vears  witnessed 
\er\'  important  changes  in  our  extensive  territorv.  The 
earliest  settlement  in  the  tract  afterwards  included  in  the 
North  Purchase,  before  s]:)oken  of,  was  made  in  1669,  on  the 
easterh'  side  of  Wiiinecunnet  Pond  by  W'illiam  Witherell,  a 
prominent  man  in  Taunton,  ancestor  of  the  pi'esent  William 
D.  Witherell  of  Norton,  and  justly  called  the  father  of  that 
town.  The  settlement  in  the  pleasant  neighborhood  around 
this  pond  had  so  increased  in  1707  and  the  people  were  so 
remote  from  the  only  place  of  public  worship,  that  in  No- 
vember of  that  year  they   sent    a    petition    to    the    town    to 

1.    See  Appendix  W, 


52  OUAKTEK    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

l^ound  them  out  a  separate  precinct,  "for  the  maintanance  of 
a  minister,  "  whom  they  plecl<^ed  themselves  to  support. 
I'aunton  was  not  quite  ready  to  assent  to  this  request,  as- 
signing to  the  General  Court  the  ostensible  reason  that  "  the 
generality  of  the  North  Purchase  are  so  poor  that  we  ffear 
they  will  not  be  able  to  build  a  meeting  house  and  maintain 
a  preacher.  "  Probably  the  other  reason  given  in  their  pro- 
test was  no  less  weighty,  namely:  "that  many  of  its  are  so 
extream  poor,  and  rates  and  taxes  so  high,  that  we  find  it 
hard  and  difficult  to  rub  along.  " 

Application  to  the  General  Court  was  finally  successful, 
and  in  1709  the  North  Precinct  was  established,  which  in 
171  I  became  a  new  town  under  the  name  of  Norton,  prob- 
ably an  abbreviation  of  North  Town.^  It  included,  as  is 
well  known,  the  present  territory  of  Easton  and  Mansfield, 
subsequently  organized  into  separate  towns,  in  1725  and 
177 1  respectively,  the  latter  being  so  named  by  Gov.  Hutch- 
inson, in  admiration  of  the  eminent  Chief  Justice  of  Eng- 
land. The  same  inconveniences  which  led  the  I^orth-folk  to 
take  the  step  above  mentioned,  also  induced  the  southern 
part  of  the  town  to  similar  action  ;  and  in  1708  about  thirty 
of  the  dwellers  in  that  region  also  petitioned  for  a  separate 
precinct.  This  caused  even  more  opposition  than  the  other; 
the  town  seemingly  being  anxious  lest  the  petitioners  should 
be  exposed  to  much  "  difificulty  by  reason  of  the  Great  river 
that  runs  through  the  middle  of  that  desired  precinct,  which 
will  be  difficult  to  pass  in  winter  by  reason  that  the  ice  is 
many  times  not  strong  enough  to  bear,  and  too  hard  to 
break!"  An  excuse  much  thinner  than  the  ice  itself;  for 
the  General  Coui-t  made  short  work  of  it,  granted  the  re- 
quest of  the  petitioners,  and  set  out  their  new  precinct  as 
desired;  which  in   17  12  was  declared  to  be  a    separate    town 

\.    Sec  Aiiiu'iidix  X. 


HISTORICAL    ADDRESS.  53 

under  the  name  of  Dighton,  so-called  from  Frances  I)i,i;hton, 
a  sister-in-law  of  Gov.  Dudley,  and  wife  of  the  Richard  Wil- 
liams before  mentioned.' 

Several  other  attempts  were  made  to  di\ide  the  town, 
but  without  success  until  173  i,  when  the  north-easterly  por- 
tion having  become  in  the  language  of  that  day,  "compe- 
tently filled  with  inhabitants,  "  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  Raynham.-  The  fashion  of  town-division  was  now 
at  its  height,  and  in  1735  our  old  town  was  called  upon  to 
part  with  another  section  on  its  southeasterly  border  ;  and  the 
new  town  of  Berkley  (named  for  Bishop  Berkeley,  who  had 
resided  a  short  time  at  Newport,  R.  I.)  took  its  place  on  the 
flag  of  the  Old  Colony.  This  completes  the  list  of  our 
municipal  offspring.-'"  No  other  town  in  the  Old  Colony  can 
boast  of  so  many  daughters.  As  in  an  earlier  age  the 
HeaN'cnly  Saturn  is  said  to  have  successively  thrown  off  its 
several  bright  rings,  so  in  a  later  day,  did  this  our  terrestrial 
planet,  in  the  first  century  of  her  existence,  set  six  new 
stars  in  her  surrounding  firmament,  which  together  con- 
stituting one  united  constellation,  this  day  revolve — har- 
moniously revolve — around  one  common  centre  of  interest 
and  attraction.  But  to  follow  them  in  their  respective  or- 
bits would  lead  us  too  far  from  our  present  path.  They  will 
soon  have  interesting  celebrations  of  their  own. 

SETTLEMENT    OF    NEW    TAUXTOX 1 736. 

I  take  especial  pleasure  as  a  son  of  Vermont  in  stating 
the  fact  known  doubtless  to  many  of  you,  that  tlie  first  per- 
manent settlement  in  that  state  was  made  by  hard)'  [)ioneers 
from  this  j^lace.  In  the  year  1735  a  number  of  Taunton 
people  petitioned  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
incorporated  as  a  new  town  on  the  Connecticut  river.  Their 
request  was  granted,  and  a  new  town  was  created,  under  the 

1.    See  ApiieiKljx  V.  2.     See  Appendix  /-.  ;!.     See  Apiteiulix  A.  A- 


54  Or.\F<TF.K     Mir.T.F.XXIAF,    CKLEBKATION. 

name  ol  Townslii))  No.  One,  or  New  Taunton.  It  was 
about  six  miles  square,  on  the  west  l:)ank  of  the  ri\ei-,  a  few 
miles  south  of  Bellows  l^'alls,  and  is  now  ealled  Westmin- 
ster. Among-  the  petitioners  are  the  familiar  names  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Tisdale,  James  Williams,  James  Leonard,  first, 
seeond  and  third,  William  Hodges,  J o.seph  Wilbore,  I^^benezer 
Dean,  James  Walker  and  others.  I  have  a  eomplete  copy  of 
their  entire  records  for  the  Aj^pendix.  On  the  14th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1736,  they  met  and  organized  in  the  little  red  school 
house  at  the  Neck-of-Land,  by  the  choice  of  Deacon  .Samuel 
Sumner  as  moderator,  James  Williams  as  projir.ietors'  clei"k, 
and  a  committee  of  allotment,  viz.  Capt.  Josej^h  Tisdale, 
Lieut.  John  Harvey,  l'2ns.  Seth  Sumner,  Mr.  Joseph  luldy, 
Mr.  Ldmond  Andrews  and  Mr.  Lbenezer  Dean,  to  dixideand 
allot  the  land  in  tracts  of  not  over  fift\'  acres  each.  ( )ne  lot 
was  reserved  for  the  fii'st  minister,  one  for  the  second,  and  a 
third  for  the  school.  After  e.\])ending  considerable  mone\' 
in  building  houses,  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill,  and  making 
other  iinprox  ements,  it  was  ascertained  in  1741,  on  the  re- 
survex'  of  the  boundarv  line  between  \ev\'  1  lami)shire  and 
Massachusetts,  (which  latter  state  had  theretofore  claimed 
jurisdiction  as  far  north  as  Concord,  X.  H.)  that  New  Taun- 
ton was  sexeral  miles  north  ol  the  true  boiuKlai"\'  line,  and 
the  grant  from  Massachusetts  therefoix-  inxalid.  The  new 
settlers  thei"eupon  sold  out  their  improxements  to  other  par- 
ties who  had  been  authorized  b\'  (jow  l^enning  of  New 
llampshire  to  take  possession,  and  in  1742  those  who  had 
gone  to  X'eiMnont  ix'tui'ned  to  Taunton  where  the\'  lived  and 
died.  1  ha\e  reason,  therefore,  as  a  X'eimontei'  to  feel  a 
special  interest  in  the  town  of   m\'  adoption.' 

T.\L\1()N     MADI.    A     >n  1  K  i;- l(i\\  x — 1 74^. 
In  the    \ear     1 74'^>    anothei'    inipoi-tant     event     occuri'ed 
bearing  laigelv  upon  the  future   inteiesls   of    Taunton,       I'he 

1.     See  .\|i|ii'iHliX   I!I5. 


iiis'i oKicAi.   .\ni)Ki:ss.  55 

town  ot  Bristol,  th()ii,^h  much  smallci"  than  'I'aunton.  had 
been  made  the  count)'  scat  in  1685.  when  liiistol  Count\- 
was  created.  I'^\er)'  student  of  history  knows  tliat  origin- 
all)  the  western  boundar\-  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  and  so  of 
Bristol  Count) ,  was  the  Narrag'ausett  Bay  ;  and  that  for 
many  years  Bristol,  Warren.  Barrington,  and  other  neigh- 
boring" towns,  were  a  part  of  Massachusetts,  and  sent  repre- 
sentatixes  to  our  General  Court  in  Boston  ;  but  by  decree  of 
the  king  and  council  in  1746  (a  \"er)-  unjust  one,  in  mv 
opinion)  the  boundary  line  was  so  run  that  those  towns  fell  to 
Rhode  Island,  and  our  jurisdiction  o\er  them  ceased.  l-5ris- 
tol,  having  heretofore  been  the  count\-  seat,  all  the  courts 
had  been  held  there,  and  the  records  of  deeds  and  wills  were 
there  also.  It  became  necessary  to  choose  another  shire- 
town  ;  and  the  central  location  as  well  as  the  relati\e  import- 
ance of  Taunton  i-endered  its  selection  natural  and  eas\'.  a 
choice  which  should  ha\e  been  made  when  the  count)-  was 
established.  Accordingly  an  act  was  jjassed,  creating  Taun- 
ton a  shire-town,  and  all  books  and  pai)ers  in  Brist()l  were 
biought  here,  and  the  hi"st  Count\-  Court,  or  Inferioi-  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  was  held  here  December  9,  1746.  This 
e\ent  made  Taunton  the  legal  centre  of  the  county,  a  posi- 
tion that  had  much  to  do  with  her  future  ])rosperit\-.'  The 
first  Court  House  was  built  about  1747.  Taunton  contiibut- 
ing  nearl)-  one  thousand  i:)ounds  towards  its  erection.  It 
stood  a  little  southwest  of  the  ])resent  building,  until  1772. 
when  it  was  succeeded  by  another,  fortx'  feet  squai-e.  and 
twent)-f()ur  feet  high,  which  in  i(S27.  being  found  inade- 
quate, was  removed  northward  down  Cobb's  Lane,  now 
Court  street,  and  conxerted  into  a  tenement  house.  The 
present  resiDcctable  edifice,  erected  in  the  same  \ear,  even 
now  reepiires  enlargement.  '!"he  first  jail  was  built  in  1747. 
at  a  cost  of  about  S3,000,  on  the  site  of  the  Bristol    Count\ 

1.     See  A|i|ieii(Ux  CC. 


56  OUARTKK     MILLENNIAL    CELEliK  ATK  )N. 

liank  lniil(lin<4,  and  duriiii;"  the  erection  of  it  the  school 
liouse  was  "impressed"  for  jail  purposes.  This  first  jail 
was  used  in  1775  for  the  confinement  of  "prisoners  of  war" 
by  order  of  the  council.^  The  present  one,  erected  in  1873 
at  a  cost  of  about  S  160,000,  is  known  as  one  of  the  model 
jails  in  the  Commonwealth,  and  under  the  j^resent  manage- 
ment might  sometimes  be  taken  by  the  passer-by  for  a  first- 
class  conservatory,  and  always  as  a  most  inviting  home  for 
honest  and  gentle  folk,  of  whatever  degree  ! 

TAUNTON     IN    THE     REVOLUTION T776. 

Hut  time  rolls  on.  Mighty  events  are  fast  approaching; 
events  involving  the  existence  of  a  nation,  and  the  destinies 
of  a  world.  The  oppressive  measures  of  luigland  had  be- 
come unendurable  ;  Lord  North  controlled  the  British  policy  ; 
the  Stamp  Act  had  passed  ;  Writs  of  Assistance  had  issued  ; 
the  streets  of  Boston  swarmed  with  foreign  soldiery  ;  the  Bos- 
ton Massacre  had  taken  place  ;  Crispus  Attucks  had  fallen  ; 
the  Boston  Port  Bill  had  become  a  law.  These  cruel  and 
vindictive  measures  aroused  the  indignation  of  our  people. 
Committees  of  safety  were  everywhere  appointed  ;  minute 
men  were  organizing  companies  ;  beacon  fires  were  burning 
on  e\ery  hill-top  ;  and  the  spirit  of  resistance  was  kindling 
into  an  irresistible  fiame.  In  these  stirring  exents  Taunton 
was  not  backward  ;  indeed  she  was  among  the  foremost. 
The  same-  spirit  which  led  her  fathers,  a  centurv  before,  to 
refuse  obedience  to  tlie  arbitrar)'  acts  of  (ioxernor  Andros, 
inspired  the  breasts  of  their  descendants. 

Long  before  the  Declaration  of  In(k'|)en(lence,  long  be- 
fore the  burning  woi-ds  of  I'ati'ick  Henr\-  ;  before  Putnam 
IkuI  left  his  plow  in  its  Connecticut  furrow,  oi-  Washington 
taken  conmiand  of  the  Amei"ican  annv  ;  before  the  march  to 
Lexington,  oi"  the  bill  ot     Ticonderoga,  the  citizens  of   Taun,- 

1.     See  .\i>|irii(li\    |)|). 


HISTORIC  A  I.    ADDRESS.  57 

loii,  with  ])i"()|)hctic  c\'c,  toresaw  the  real  issues  imohed  in 
the  comin<;"  contliet,  and  as  early  as  October,  1774.  unfurled 
their  banner  to  the  breeze  on  Taunton  (ireen,  bearing  those 
inspiring"  words.  "  Libert\-  and  Union;  Union  and  Liberty.  "^ 

The  uprising  in  this  \icinity  became  so  great  that  Gov- 
ernor Gage  deemed  an  armed  force  necessary  to  keep  the 
people  in  subjection,  and  at  his  request,  CcjI.  Gilbert,  a 
notorious  Tory  of  Freetown,  raised  a  body  of  three  hundred 
men  to  overawe  the  friends  of  Liberty.  These  proceedings 
produced  intense  indignation,  and  Col.  Gilbert  was  denounced 
as  "an  enemy  to  his  country,  to  reason,  to  justice  and  to  the 
common  rights  of  mankind;"  and  it  was  declared  that 
"  whoexer  had  knowingly  espoused  his  cause,  or  taken  up 
arms  for  his  support,  does,  in  common  with  himself,  deserve 
to  be  instantly  cut  off  from  the  benefit  of  commerce  with, 
or  countenance  of,  any  friend  of  virtue,  America,  or  of  the 
human  race.  "  .Such  was  the  spirit  of  Bristol  county,  says 
one  of  the  Boston  papers  of  that  day,  "that  it  is  more  dan- 
gerous to  be  a  Tory  at  Taunton,  than  in  Boston  itself.  '"- 

On  the  28th  of  .September,  1774,  a  spirited  county  con- 
\ention  was  held  at  the  old  Court  House  in  this  town,  at 
wliich  Zephaniah  Leonard,  Lsq.,  (afterwards  Judge  of  the 
Common  Pleas)  was  chairman,  and  Dr.  David  Cobb,  clerk. 
Patriotic  resolutions  were  unanimousl\-  adopted,  declaring 
that  the)'  were  "determinetl  at  the  risk  of  their  fortunes  and 
their  lives,  to  defend  their  natural  and  compacted  rights,  and 
to  oj^jiose  to  the  utmost  all  illegal  and  unconstitutional 
measures,  which  ha\'e  been  or  mav  be  hereafter  adopted  b}" 
a  British  Parliament  or  a  ]3ritish  ministrv.  "''  Thus  earlv 
were  the  yeomen  ot  this  \-icinity  pi"ej)aring  thi'  wa}'  for  the 
lull  declaration  of   .Amei'ican  Independence. 

1,     l'n>tliiii.i;li;nirs  Lile  i.f  Wiineu.  1).  40o.  'J.     .St'i' Apin-iKlix  KE. 

3.    See  Al'l"?'"'i'^  I*"!' • 


58  QUARTER    Mir.LEXNAI,    CELEBRATION. 

Tlic  news  of  the  l^attlc  of  Lc\ini;t()n  reached  Taunlo 
on  the  evening-  of  April  19th,  1775.  That  \^ery  night  both 
of  the  Taunton  companies,  one  commanded  by  Capt.  James 
Williams,  Jr..  the  other  by  Capt.  Robert  Crosman,  rallied 
in  full  force,  and  led  by  Col.  Nathaniel  Leonard,  suc- 
ceeded by  rapid  night  marches  in  reporting  for  duty  in 
Roxbury  early  on  the  following  morning.'  From  that  da}' 
Taunton  was  all  alive.  Within  four  days  another  com  pan  \' 
of  si.xty  men  was  organized,  and  went  into  active  service 
under  Captain  Oliver  Soper,  on  the  24th  of  the  same 
month.  On  the  3d  of  July  the  town  appointed  a  committee 
of  Inspection  and  Correspondence,'-'  consisting  of  twenty-one 
of  her  most  active  patriots  :  such  men  as  George  Godfrey, 
Nicholas  Baylies,  George  Williams,  Dr.  David  Cobb  and 
Josiah  Crocker,  son  of  the  sixth  minister,  and  father  of  Hon. 
Samuel  Crocker.  A  comjjlete  record  of  the  ]M"oceedings  of 
this  committee  has  been  happily  preserved  among  the  (iod- 
frey  papers  in  the  hands  of  that  zealous  antiquar\-.  Deacon 
Edgar  H.  Reed.  One  of  their  first  acts  was  to  seize  the  es- 
tate and  effects  of  Daniel  Leonard,  who,  o\er  the  signature 
of  Massachusettensis,  had  written  the  most  plausible  articles 
ever  put  forth  in  support  of  the  Royalist  cause,  and  which 
were  for  a  long  time  attributetl  to  Attorney-Cjcneral    Sewall. 

In  1776,  nearly  one  hundred  citizens  of  this  town 
headed  by  John  Godfrey,  signed  a  solemn  league  and  co\en- 
ant,  (the  original  of  which  is  still  preser\-ed)  "not  to  aid  or 
assist  the  British  forces,  or  su]:)plv  them  with  |)ro\isi()ns,  (»i" 
stores,  or  give  them  an}'  information,  but  on  the  contrary. 
according  to  their  best  power  and  abilities,  to  defend  b}' 
arms  the  American  colonies  against  ever}  hostile  attemjjt  of 
the  fleets  and  armies  of  (ireat  l^ritain.   "■' 

Taunton  also  furnished  the  colonel  for  a  new  regiment 
of   Bristol  County,  and  a  brigadier  general  for  a  new  brigade 

1.    See  A)ii)eii<li\  KF  a.  2.    See  Ajjijendix  (-iG.  3.    See  AiJiieiidix  HH. 


nis'loRicAr.    \nfiREss. 


59 


of  four  regiments,  viz.  C"ol.  ('iC()rj;c  Williams,  and  Brig.  Gen. 
(indfrev.  who  became  a  \ery  prominent  figure  in  nuv  Revo- 
lutionar\  ])erio(l.  Two  more  companies  were  also  raised  in 
'78  and  "/V-  ^'•'"  different  periods  of  service.*  When  we  re- 
member that  'J'auntoii  then  had  only  about  three  thousand 
sovds.  we  can  justly  claim  that  she  did  her  full  part  in  the. 
Revolutionary  struggle.  Her  contribution  to  the  main  body 
of  the  army  would  entitle  her  to  this  meed  of  praise  ;  but 
what  other  town  in  the  Commonwealth,  nay.  in  the  entire 
country — had  the  honor — the  imperishable  honor — of  fur- 
nishing not  onlv  two  of  the  most  trusted  members  of  (ieneral 
Washington's  staff,  but  also  one  of  the  foremost  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of   Independence! 

Nicholas  Baylies,  a  member  of  the  Cv.mmittee  of  Safe- 
[y.  l)efore  spoken  of,  and  so  prominent  in  our  town  during 
the  Revolutionar\^  |)eriod,  was  the  father  of  Hon.  Hodijah 
Baxlies,  the  favorite  aide-de-cam])  of  Gen.  Lincoln,  whose 
daughter  he  afterwards  married.  Subsequently  he  became 
the  friend  and  aide  of  Washington,  serving  under  him  at  the 
siege  of  \'orktown.  He  was  a  man  of  polished  manners 
and  martial  bearing,  "an  officer  with  all  the  elegance  of  the 
liiMtish  iienerals,  without  anv  of  their  vices.  "  After  the 
war  he  became  a  faithful,  accurate  and  accommodating  Col- 
lector of  Customs,  and  a  most  acceptable  Judge  of  Probate 
for  a  quarter  of  a  centurw  It  is  unnecessary  to  remind  this 
audience  that  he  was  the  father  of  our  late  esteemed  and 
beloxed  townsman.  Mr.  lulmund  Baylies,  who  so  gracefull} 
wore  that  highest  of  all  earthly  titles,  "a  Christian  gentle- 
man." and  who  but  recently  came  to  his  grave  "in  a  lull 
age.  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in  its  season.  " 

Xo  doubt  the  patriotic  sentiment  of  Taunton  and  \icin- 
itv  was  largelv  molded  bv  Robert  Treat  Paine,  who  had 
married  the  s'ster  of   General  Cobb,  and  at  the    time    of   the 

I      ><-(■  ApiiPiiilLv   ir 


6o  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEHRATIOX. 

Revolution  was  about  forty-five  years  old.  His  house  was 
on  the  east  side  of  City  Square,  on  or  near  the  site  of  the 
Taunton  National  Bank.  He  had  conducted  the  prosecution 
airainst  the  British  soldiers  for  the  Boston  Massacre,  had 
warmly  espoused  the  side  of  the  colonists,  was  delegate  from 
Taunton  to  the  General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  in  ,"/}, 
and  '74,  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  '74  and  '7 5, and  to  the 
Continental  Congress  which  succeeded  it,  and  was  one  of 
the  fifty-si.\  who,  in  that  "diploma  of  immortality,  "  pledged 
their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor  for  their 
country's  independence.  Subsequently  he  became  Speaker 
of  our  House  of  Representatives,  Attorney  General,  State 
Councillor,  and  finally  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  legal  attainments,  a  brilliant  wit,  an  ex- 
cellent scholar,  an  able  and  impartial  judge,  a  devoted  i)a- 
triot.  His  philanthropic  descendant,  the  embodiment  of  all 
"Associated  Charities,"  worthily  bears  his  honored  name. 

On  the  other  hand  Daniel  Leonard,  then  about  thirty- 
'(wc  years  of  age,  although  born  of  the  best  blood  of  the 
Old  Colony,  educated  in  her  highest  institutions,  gifted  with 
remarkable  powers  as  a  writer,  lawyer  and  orator,  and  for 
several  years  our  chosen,  jiopular  and  trusted  representative 
in  the  General  Court,  in  an  evil  hour  deserted  his  former 
friends  and  embraced  the  Tory  cause.  His  house,  (now 
standing  just  east  of  the  Court  House)  was  assailed  by  his 
indignant  fellow-citizens,  and  he  fled  to  Boston  to  join  the 
enemies  of  his  country.  I^'or  this  lie  was  soon  banished 
from  the  Commonwealth,  his  property  was  confiscated,  and 
he  (lied  in  exile  in  a  foreign  land,  shunned  and  des|)ised  by 
his  formei"  townsmen  and  by  every  true  lox'er  of  his  country. 
He  left  no  descendants  in  America.  Of  these  two  contem- 
])oraries,  the  name  of  the  one  is  e\er  mentioned  with  honor 
and  res])ect,  that  of  the  other    is    almost    forgotten.      "The 


IIIS'IORICAL    ADDRESS.  6  I 

memory  of  the  just  is  blessed,  but  the  name   of    the   wicked 
shall  rot.  " 

I  have  spoken  thus  particularly  of  two  prominent  law- 
yers in  our  Re\'olutionary  period,  but  these  are  not  all.  Of 
the  long^  roll  of  able  counsellors  and  judges,  who  at  some 
time  resided  in  Taunton,  what  more  shall  I  say  ?  Time 
would  fail  me  to  tell  of  Samuel  White,  the  first  Taunton 
lawyer,  and  his  grandson,  Francis  Baylies,  of  George  Leon- 
ard, of  Samuel  Fales  and  Seth  Padelford,  of  Seth  Williams, 
of  Samuel  Sumner  Wilde,  of  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  of  Mar- 
cus Morton,  father  and  son,  nay,  three  sons,  of  John  Mason 
Williams  and  Pliny  Merrick,  of  Theophilus  Parsons,  Har- 
rison Gray  Otis  Colby,  of  Chester  Isham  Reed  and  others  ; 
governors  and  lieut.  governors,  justices  and  chief  justices 
of  every  court  in  this  Commonwealth.  What  wonder  there- 
fore, with  such  a  record  before  me,  that  I  should  have  been 
induced,  forty  years  since,  to  leave  the  land  of  my  birth,  and 
to  say  unto  this  place,  henceforth  "thy  people  shall  be  my 
people,  and  thy  God  my  God.  " 

TAUNTON    IN    SHAYS'    REBELLION 1/86. 

The  war  of  the  Revolution  was  over ;  but  it  left  the 
colonists  completely  exhausted.  The  expenses  incurred  in 
carrying  it  on  were  enormous  ;  taxes  were  burdensome  ;  pub- 
lic and  private  indebtedness  overwhelming.  The  currency 
was  sadly  depreciated  ;  trade  uncertain  ;  and  the  avenues  of 
industry  were  closed.  Corn  was  X^  1 5  a  bushel  ;  board 
^52  a  week  ;  wood  ^^40  a  cord.^  Every  silver  dollar  was 
worth  seventy-five  paper  dollars  ;-  landed  property  was  worth- 
less, and  starvation  stared  many  in  the  face.  An  uprising 
of  discontent  took  place  in  many  counties,  Bristol  among 
the  rest.  Collection  suits  were  so  obnoxious  that  courts 
were  the  special  object  of  attack.  At  the  September  term 
of  the  Common  Pleas  in  this  town,    the    Court    House    was 

1.    Atwoort's  Reminiscences,  !>.  .">ri.  '-'.    See  Ai)penili.x  J.T. 


62  «)l'.\Rri:K     MII.I.F.NNIAI.    CKLF.15R  A'lloX'. 

llireatcned  1)\  an  aimed  mob,  clemaiKliiii;  that  the  court 
slioiilcl  not  he  held.  (ien.  Cobl),  then  one  of  the  justices  of 
that  court,  in  answer  to  these  threats,  uttered,  according;-  to 
tra(Htion,  these  memoiable  words,  so  familial-  to  e\er\' 
'I'aunton  ear,  and  which  have  jiassed  into  histor\- :  "Awa)' 
with  \()ur  whinint;-  ;  I  will  hold  this  couit  if  I  hold  it  in 
blood;  1  will  sit  as  a  iud_i;e.  or  die  as  a  L^eneral.  "  Awed  b)' 
his  resolute  spirit,  the  crowd  dispersed  ;  but  the  spirit  of  in- 
subonlination  was  not  \et  quelled  ;  the  western  counties 
were  soon  in  open  rebellion,  and  the  October  term  ot  the 
Supreme  Court  was  approaching;-.  Apprehending-  a  second 
demonstration,  (ien.  Cobb,  on  the  Simday  eveninj;-  previous, 
took  possession  of  the  Court  House  with  a  small  bod}-  of 
volunteeis  from  this  town,  and  one  field  piece,  still  in  exist- 
ence amonu  us.  The  court  opened  its  session  on  Tuesda)- 
morning-  and  on  Wednesday  the  insurgents  again  appeared  to 
the  number  of  about  two  hundred,  and  armed  with  English 
muskets  put  themselves  in  battle  arra\'  under  Col.  Valentine 
of  Freetown.  Gen.  Cobb  drew  up  the  militia,  numbering  about 
four  hundred  and  planted  his  loaded  cannon.  To  the  de- 
mand that  the  court  papers  be  delivered  up  or  destroyed. 
Gen.  Cobb,  it  is  said,  diew  a  line  with  his  sword  on  the 
groinid  and  shouted  to  the  rebel  leader,  "  if  you  want  these 
papers,  come  and  take  them  ;  but  pass  that  line  and  J  Hre  ; 
and  vour  blood  be  on  youi-  own  head.  "  The  insurgents 
were  cowed  and  fled  in  dismay,  and  armed  lesistance  to  the 
law  of  the  land  in  I^ristol  coimt\'  ceased.  It  is  to  the  cretlit 
of  Ra_\nhani  that  it  sent  moie  men  to  put  down  this  insur- 
rection than  any  other  tinvn  in  the  count\  ;  two  full  com- 
panies from  that  place  ha\ing  ])romptl\-  responded  to  Gcu. 
Cobb's  call. 


lIlSTOKrCAI.     ADHKESS.  63 

Cieneral  C'ohh.  th()ui;h  born  in  Attleboro'.  came  to 
Taunton  at  an  early  a<<e.  A  j^raduate  of  Harvard  in  1766, 
when  under  sixteen,  educated  in  her  medical  school,  a  physi- 
cian of  onlv  twenty-seven  wlien  Independence  was  declared, 
he  threw  himself  heartily  into  the  contest,  and  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  was  representative  to 
the  (ieneral  Court  in  October,  1774.  He  was  appointed 
Lieut.  Col.  of  the  16th  Massachusetts  Rej^iment,  then  be- 
came the  aide  and  intimate  friend  of  Washino;ton,  and  after 
the  return  of  peace  was  repeatedly  honored  by  his  native 
state.  Speaker  of  her  House  of  Representatives,  President 
of  her  Senate,  Councillor  to  her  Governor,  Lieut.  Governor 
himself,  Maj.  General  of  her  militia,  Chief  Justice  of  one 
of  her  courts,  what  more  could  he  be  except  her  representa- 
tive in  the  Federal  Congress  of  1773-5.  Notwithstanding 
his  busy  public  life  he  still  had  time  to  look  after  the  inter- 
ests and  welfare  of  his  own  townsmen,  and  was  so  active  in 
procuring  the  establishment  of  the  Bristol  Academy  in  1793, 
as  to  have  received  from  the  trustees  the  title  of  its  "patron 
and  founder.  "  Take  him  all  in  all  he  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  the  times  produced.  His  versatility  of 
talent  was  remarkable.  A  sagacious  physician,  an  intrepid 
soldier,  an  honest  politician,  an  unselfish  statesman,  a  safe 
councillor,  a  discreet  judge,  an  earnest  patriot.  Well  did 
Massachusetts  honor  itself  in  directing  that  his  jiortrait  be 
hung  on  the  walls  of  her  Senate  Chamber  as  an  insj^iration 
to  the  generations  to  come  after  him  I  Well  do  we  honor 
ourselves  in  inviting  his  onlv  living  male  descendant  to  be 
present  on  this  occasion.' 

ni\'ISI()X    Ol"    CHURCHE,'^ — 179-- 
For  more  than  a  century  and  a  half  there  was  only   one 
Congregational  church  and  societ}-  in    the    entire    town,    in- 

1.     Hon,  Samuel  Crocker  Cobb,  foviner  Mayor  of  Boston. 


64  QUARTER    MILLEXNIAf.    CELEBRATION. 

stead  of  the  forty  now  to  be  found  on  the  same  territory. 
During  that  period,  in  additit)n  to  the  learned,  holy,  humble 
William  Hook,  and  the  pious,  judicious  and  modest  Nicholas 
Street,  before  spoken  of,  I  may  not  omit  to  allude  to  George 
Shove,  whom  Sewall  calls  a  '-principal  light  in  these  parts,  " 
and  who  after  twenty-two  years  spent  in  promoting  both  the 
spiritual  and  material  interests  of  Taunton,  died  on  lliurs- 
day,  April  21,  1687,  in  a  good  old  age;  also,  to  the  learned, 
affectionate  and  popular  Samuel  Danforth,  who  resided  at 
the  corner  of  Washington  and  Park  streets,  and  who  was  a 
useful  physician  and  a  respectable  lawyer  as  well  as  a  pastor 
and  whose  death  on  Nov.  14,  1727,  after  forty  years  of  faith- 
ful service,  was  declared  to  be  an  "awful  and  threatening 
stroke  of  Providence,  "  and  whose  remains  now  repose  in 
yonder  Plain  cemetery ;  next,  to  the  hospitable  Thomas 
Clap,  son-in-law  of  Judge  George  Leonard,  of  Norton,  whose 
house  was  that  now  occupied  by  Capt.  Gordon  on  Dean 
street.  Still  less  can  I  overlook  that  eloquent  and  persua- 
sive preacher,  Josiah  Crocker,  whose  powers  drew  man)'  from 
a  great  distance  to  hear  him,  and  who  lived  in  the  old  par- 
sonage on  Barnum  street,  until  August  28,  1774;  from 
whence  he  also  was  borne  to  his  resting  place,  in  the  same 
cemetery  ;  and  whose  public  spirited  descendants,  so  long 
prominent  in  public  affairs,  have  in  many  ways  left  so  last- 
ing an  impress  on  this  place.  He  was  succeeded  by  that 
fearless  christian  patriot,  Caleb  Barnum,  whose  house  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  late  Mr.  Dunbar's  apothecary  store,  on  the 
south  side  of  City  Square,  and  who  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-nine  gave  up  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country  as 
chaplain  to  the  24th  Regiment  in  our  Revolutionary  war, 
declaring  on  his  deathbed,  that  had  he  a  thousand  lives  he 
would  willingly  lay  them  all  down  in  his  country's  cause. 
I  may  also  refei"  to  the  acute,  out-spoken,  and  often  eccentric 


HISTORICAL    ADDRESS.  65 

Ephraim  Jiidson,  whose  house  was  south  of  St.  Thomas' 
church,  near  the  Wheaton  house,  and  who  used  to  caution 
the  boys  not  to  make  so  much  noise  in  the  gallery,  lest 
they  wake  up  the  old  folks  down  below ;  to  the  some- 
times sublime  and  oftentimes  imprudent  preacher,  John  Fos- 
ter ;  and  later  still,  to  the  benevolent,  affectionate  and  be- 
loved John  Pipon,  who  never  married,  because  his  salary,  as 
he  said,  could  not  "carry  double,"  but  who,  notwithstand- 
ing, kept  open  house  at  the  corner  of  High  and  Hill  streets, 
where  Mr.  A.  E.  Swasey  now  resides. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  i8th  century,  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Judson,  a  division  of  senti- 
ment began  to  arise  in  the  church,  which  upon  the  settlement 
of  Mr.  Foster  as  Mr.  Judson's  successor,  in  1792,  culmi- 
nated in  the  withdrawal  of  a  majority  of  the  church  members, 
and  the  organization  of  a  new  society  in  the  west  part  of  the 
town,  which,  after  worshipping  some  years  in  temporary 
places,  finally  under  the  faithful  guidance  of  the  Rev.  Alvan 
Cobb,  eminent  for  his  theological  and  biblical  learning, 
erected  in  1824  the  church  now  standing  at  Westville, 
which  is  thought  to  be  the  oldest  existing  church  edifice  in 
town.  This  society  is  believed  to  have  established  the  first 
Sunday  School  in  Bristol  County. 

Three  years  previously,  viz.  in  August,  1821,  the  third 
Congregational  church  had  been  organized  at  the  Green,  of 
which  Rev.  Chester  I  sham  was  the  first  pastor,  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby,  under  whose  long  and  faithful 
ministration  the  church  increased  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
furnish  material  for  a  fourth  society,  which  was  organized  in 
1837  as  the  Spring  street  church,  now  the  Winslow  church 
on  Cohannet  street,  and  over  which  our  beloved  and 
esteemed  chaplain  was  the  first  pastor,  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Blake,  whose  loss  to  this    town    cannot    easily    be 


d^  QUARTER     MILLf:NNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

estimated.  Still  again  in  1853,  another  society  of  the  same 
denomination  was  organized  in  East  Taunton,  and  later  still 
in  1868  the  Union  Congregational  church  at  Kritanniaville 
was  added  to  the  list. 

As  early  as  1741  a  Protestant  Episcopal  church  was 
organized  under  the  name  of  St.  Thomas,  which  worshipped 
awhile  at  the  west  part  of  the  town,  but  was  practically  sus- 
pended from  1798  until  1829,  when  it  was  re-organized  in 
the  centre  of  the  town,  and  now  worships  in  its  stone  church 
on  High  street,  which  in  its  present  condition  cost  about 
$70,000.  The  Hon.  Marcus  Morton  and  the  Hon.  Francis 
Baylies  were  its  first  wardens  after  its  re-establishment. 
This  society  never  realized  the  benefit  of  the  gift  intended 
by  Thomas  Coram  for  the  future  Episcopalians  of  Taunton, 
in  his  deed  of  fifty-five  acres,  made  December  28,  1703,  to 
the  vestry  of  King's  Chapel,  in  trust,  for  they  sold  the  land 
to  Stephen  Burt  in  1754  for  one  hundred  pounds,  and  ap- 
propriated the  whole  for  building  the  present  King's  Chapel 
on  Tremont  street,  Boston  !  It  should  have  gone  into  a 
"  Coram  Tower "  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  church. 
His  subsequent  gift  of  a  library  and  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  shared  a  better  fate.  A  second  parish  of  the  same 
denomination  was  organized  at  Whittenton  in  1 866  as  St. 
John's  church,  with  the  Rev.  Geo.  D.  Miles  its  first  rector, 
whose  catholic  spirit  and  amiable  character  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten  in  this  community. 

The  first  P'ree-will  Baptist  church  was  in  North  Taun- 
ton, and  its  first  meeting  house  was  erected  in  1767,  the 
present  one  succeeding  it    about     1836.     A  Si.\    Principles 

Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1789,  in  North  Rehoboth 
and  West  Taunton,  but  which  has  long  ceased  to  exist.      In 

I  8  19  was  organized  the  "  Second  Baptist  church  in  Taun- 
ton" on  Winthrop  .street,  the  name  of  which  was  afterwards 


IIIS'I'OKICAL    ADDRESS.  67 

changed  to  Winthrop  Street  Baptist  church,  and  which  has 
l^ecome  such  a  power  among  us.  A  Christian  Baptist 
church  also  existed  for  a  while  on  Trescott  street,  but  this 
society  has  for  sometime  been  disbanded.  The  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  the  Weir,  was  established  in 
1830,  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  influential  in  that 
denomination.  The  second — the  Central  Methodist  Kj)isco- 
j)a]  church,  on  Cohannet  street — w^as  organized  in  1853,  and 
the  third — Grace  church,  corner  of  Weir  street  and  Somer- 
set avenue — in  1874. 

After  several  acts  incorporating  a  Universalist  society  in 
town,  the  present  society  was  established  in  1840,  our  worthy 
townsman,  Mr.  Charles  Foster,  who  still  goes  in  and  out 
among  us,  being  one  of  the  most  active  members.  After  wor- 
shipping awhile  in  the  Town  Hall,  it  moved  to  Spring  street, 
and  in  1842  erected  a  new  church  at  the  corner  of  High  and 
Spring  streets,  which  in  turn  gave  way  in  1876  to  the  pres- 
ent convenient  and  larger  building  on  the  same  site.  The 
first  Roman  Catholic  church,  St.  Mary's,  was  erected  in 
1 83  I,  succeeded  by  the  present  substantial  and  commodious 
stone  edifice  in  1854.  From  this  central  church  has  sprung 
the  flourishing  parish  of  the  Sacred  Heart  at  the  Weir,  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Family  at  East  Taunton,  and  the 
French  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  at  Whitten- 
ton,  the  whole  ministering  to  the  wants  of  over  seven  thou- 
.sand  souls.  The  latest  addition  to  our  list  is  the  Presby- 
terian society,  which  has  just  erected  a  fine  stone  house  of 
worship  on  Washington  street.  These  and  some  others,  in- 
cluding the  Advent  Christian  church,  the  chapel  at  Oakland, 
and  that  on  Arlington  and  School  streets,  show  a  growth  in . 
our  means  and  conveniences  for  religious  culture  quite  equal 
to  the  development  in  our  material  and  secular  interests,  and 
also  demonstrate  how  easy    it    is    for    brethren    of  different 


6S  ouARtER  Millennial  celebration. 

religious  names  to  dwell  together  in  peace  and  unity.  But 
amid  all  these  successive  additions  to  our  churches  and 
religioui?  societies,  the  old  mother  church  still  lives,  and 
embosomed  in  her  emerald  setting — never  more  attractive 
than  on  this  day — she  grows  not  dim  with  age,  but  on  the 
contrary  has  just  renewed  her  youth  like  the  eagle,  as  if 
determined  still  to  be  called,  as  heretofore,  "  The  First  Con- 
gregational Society  in  Taunton.  " 

Taunton's  progress    from    1800  to    i860. 

In  the  orderly  development  of  our  subject  we  have  now 
reached  the  present  century,  at  the  opening  of  which  Taun- 
ton had  a  population  of  only  3,860.  Her  principal  manu- 
factures at  that  time  were  about  three  millions  of  brick,  and 
iron  ware  of  different  kinds,  to  nearly  1,500  tons  annually.^ 
Her  growth  during  the  first  decade  was  hardly  perceptible, 
gaining  only  about  fifty  inhabitants  in  the  entire  time,  if  we 
may  trust  the  reported  census. 

Her  first  mill  for  making  cotton-goods, — the  old 
Green  Mill  so-called, — -was  erected  in  1806  on  Weir  street, 
near  the  bridge,  largely  by  the  enterprise  of  Capt.  Silas 
Shepard  who  had  a  short  time  before  moved  here  from 
Wrentham.  Mr.  Jesse  Hartshorn,  so  long  an  admitted 
authority  in  that  industry,  was  the  expert  practical  assistant 
in  this  mill.  The  Dean  Cotton  mill  at  Barehole,  for  mak- 
ing cotton  yarn,  was  organized  soon  after,  a  former  super- 
intendent of  which  Mr.  Robert  S.  Dean,  still  goes  in  and  out 
among  us.-  Then  came  the  war  of  1812,  for  which,  though 
deeming  it  unwise  and  unnecessary,  Taunton  furnished  three 
separate  companies,  mostly  for  coast  guard  duty,  under 
"Captains  Silas  Shepard,  Seth  Staples  and  Joseph  Reed. 
This  was  her  full  quota  of  the  14,000  men  raised  by  Massa- 
chusetts. 

1.  See  Appendix  KK. 

2.  Since  delivering,  deceased  in  his  85tl)  year. 


IIISTORICAI,    ADDRESS.  69 

Soon  after  the  return  of  peace,  Taunton  began  to  show 
signs  of  a  new  life,  and  the  next  fifty  years  exhibit  a  mark- 
ed advance  in  her  industrial  enterprises,  and  permanently 
established  her  character  as  a  great  and  successful  manufac- 
turing centre.  Among  her  leading  undertakings  in  that 
period  we  may  especially  note  one  great  enterprise  of  those 
energetic  business  men,  Messrs.  Crocker  and  Richmond,  who 
for  many  years  swayed  a  powerful  sceptre  over  every  branch 
of  industry  in  this  town  ;  we  mean,  The  Taunton  Manufac- 
turing Company  of  1823.  Stretching,  with  its  immense 
plant  from  Morey's  Bridge  to  Weir  street,  it  included  there- 
in the  extensive  Calico  Print  Works,  the  first  in  this  coun- 
try, the  old  Brick  Mill  on  Washington  street,  the  Hopewell 
Mills  above,  and  also  the  original  Whittenton  Mill,  parent 
of  that  magnificent  establishment,  the  consummate  manage- 
ment of  which,  with  its  fifteen  hundred  employes,  has  made 
it  at  once  our  boast  and  our  pride.  We  may  mention  also 
the  Oakland  Mills  of  Capt.  Shepard  in  1827,  the  first  can- 
ton flannel  factory  in  this  vicinity,  if  not  in  the  Common- 
wealth ;  the  extensive  works  of  A.  Field  &  Sons,  and  of  the 
Taunton  Tack  Company,  whose  humble  carpet  tacks  intro- 
duce our  name  into  the  palaces  of  presidents  and  princes, 
and  whose  united  product  exceeds  that  of  any  other  place  in 
the  known  world  ;  the  splendid  establishment  of  Reed  &  Bar- 
ton, the  successor  of  the  first  enterprise  of  the  kind  in 
America,  which  has  done  so  much  for  our  reputation  at 
home  and  abroad,  and  whose  elegant  silver  ware  snatches 
the  prize  from  every  competitor  at  the  exhibitions  of  all  na- 
tions ;  the  Old  Colony  Iron  Company  of  1844,  which 
through  a  long  and  prosperous  career  constituted  with  its 
five  hundred  hands  the  life  and  soul  of  East  Taunton,  in 
striking"  contrast  with  its  present  forlorn  and  deserted  ap- 
pearance ;    the    Phoenix     Manufacturing     Company    for    thc^ 


yO  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

manufacture  of  crucibles,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  one  of  the  first  in  this  coiuitry,  which  has  had  the 
confidence  and  the  contracts  of  our  government  for  over 
half  a  century  ;  dividing  in  that  time  nearly  S200,ooo  on  a 
capital  stock  of  only  $30,000 ;  the  Taunton  Locomotive 
Manufacturing  Company,  one  of  the  first  establishments  in 
the  United  States  erected  solely  for  the  manufacture  of 
locomotives,  and  whose  thousand  engines,  by  their  careful 
construction  and  efficient  and  economical  working,  have  ac- 
quired a  high  reputation  throughout  the  country  ;  the  Cop- 
per Manufacturing  Company  of  Crocker  Brothers  &  Com- 
pany, so  long  a  brilliant  and  successful  enterprise  in  our 
town,  whose  yellow  sheathing  metal,  the  first  made  in  this 
country,  has  protected  many  a  noble  bark,  as  she  threaded  her 
way  amid  "  the  dazzling  glitter  and  the  thundering  crash  of 
the  icy  ocean,  or  ploughed  up  the  phosphoric  light  of  the 
tropic  seas."  Finally,  we  refer  to  the  Mason  Machine  Works, 
of  1845,  in  all  its  vastness,  the  product  of  whose  cotton 
machinery  hums  her  praise  in  every  manufacturing  district 
in  our  land ;  whose  swift-winged  locomotives  herald  her 
taste  and  skill  as  they  traverse  the  earth  from  California's 
Golden  Gate  to  the  spicy  shores  of  Araby  the  Blest ;  whose 
perfected  printing  presses  already  proclaim  the  glad  tidings 
to  the  inhabitants  of  South  America,  the  Zulus  of  South 
Africa,  and  to  the  far-off  natives  of  Australia,  and  soon,  in 
connection  with  those  made  by  the  Locomotive  Company,  to 
reach  and  enlighten  all  nations  and  kindreds  and  peoples  and 
tongues  from  "Greenland's  icy  mountains  "  to  "  Lidia's  coral 
strand.  " 

These  and  man\'  other  business  enterprises,  nearly  two 
hundred  in  number,  the  bare  enumeration  of  which  would 
exhaust  your  patience,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  all  our 
banks  (except  the    new-    Savings    Bank)    first    opened    their 


HISTORICAL    ADDRESS.  J  I 

doors  during'  the  first  half  of  this  century,  abundantly  prove 
that  notwithstanding"  an  occasional  reverse,  and  even  an  oc- 
casional failure,  these  were  the  halcyon  days  of  Taunton's 
prosjjerity,  the  impulse  of  which  sent  our  population  bound- 
ing up  from  about  7,000  in  1840  to  over  15,000  in  i860, 
and  our  rateable  valuation  from  about  $2,000,000  to  nearly 
$8,000,000  in  the  same  period.^  But  our  prosperity  was  now 
to  receive  a  check,  before  which  all  other  disasters  sink  into 
insignificance.  Suddenly  our  country  found  itself  in  the 
throes  of  a  second  birth,  and  all  our  cares,  all  our  thoughts, 
and  all  our  prayers  were  needed  for  her  preservation. 

TAUNTOX     IX     THE     REBELLIOX l86l-6^. 

Go\'ernor  Andrews'  order,  under  the  President's  call  for 
seventy-five  thousand  men,  reached  Taunton  on  the  morning 
of  April  16,  1 86 1.  It  found  her  lamps  trimmed  and  burn- 
ing. Fortunately  the  Taunton  Light  Guard,  Co.  (i,  had 
been  organized  six  years  earlier,  and  before  eleven  o'clock  of 
that  day  were  on  their  march,  armed  and  equipped  under 
Captain  Timothy  Gordon,  for  the  appointed  rendezvous,  the 
"Cradle  of  Liberty  in  Boston  "  It  is  to  the  lasting  credit  of 
Captain  John  H.  Church,  of  this  town,  that  upon  hearing 
his  country's  call,  he  instantly  resigned  his  business  situa- 
tion and  before  eight  o'clock  that  morning,  had  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  for  the  war;  so  far  as  known,  the  first  volunteer 
in  the  Commonwealth,  if  not  in  the  country.  (3thers  may 
have  felt  bound  by  marching  orders  ;  some  may  have  gone 
as  jiaid  substitutes  ;  but  Mr.  Church  of  his  own  free  will, 
unbidden  by  any  superior,  untempted  by  gold,  unattracted 
even  bv  the  homage  paid  to  military  office,  left  home,  kin- 
dred and  friends,  to  join,  as  a  private,  the  ranks  of  an  ex- 
pedition, the  perils  of  which  no  man  knew.  Was  e\'er  purer 
patriotism  than  this  .■*      Mr.  James  M.  Cushman,  also    of  this 

1.    See  Appeiidlx  \^\^. 


72  OUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

town,  enlisted  but  a  few  minutes  after  Air.    Church,    and    is 
entitled  to  like  praise;  par  )iobilc  fratriun. 

The  Light  Guard,  numbering  fifty-eight  officers  and  men, 
left  Fall  River,  April  i/th,  on  the  steamer  State  of  Maine, 
and  at  early  dawn  of  the  20th,  the  first  moment  the  stars 
and  stripes  could  be  seen  floating  from  the  flag-staff  of  the 
Fort,  and  on  the  same  month,  the  same  day,  and  almost  the 
same  hour  at  which  its  predecessors  marched  into  Roxbury 
the  morning  after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  did  this,  our  first 
contribution  to  the  war,  land  at  Fortress  Monroe,  thus  en- 
titliilg  itself  to  the  universally  admitted  honor  of  being  the 
first  northern  company,  and  its  commander  the  first  northern 
captain,  to  set  foot  on  rebel  soil.  It  was  also  one  of  the 
first  to  be  mustered  into  the  nation's  ser\"ice,  the  Washing- 
ton Light  Infantry  having  preceded  it  by  a  few  days  only. 
Its  timely  arrival  no  doubt  saved  Fortress  Monroe  to  the 
Union  cause  ;  an  event,  the  importance  of  which  can  hardly  be 
o\'er  estimated.  This  company  had  the  honor  of  being  in 
the  first  field  fight  of  the  war,  at  Big  Bethel,  which  might 
have  resulted  quite  differently  had  they  been  properly  sup- 
ported on  the  left  and  centre.  The  Light  (juard  not  only 
did  faithful  duty  in  its  three  months'  service  in  Virginia,  but 
became  a  nursery  of  commanding  officers,  who  made  an  ex- 
cellent record  throughout  the  war;  over  a  score  of  its  mem- 
bers having  risen  to  rank  in  other  organizations  ;  among 
them  Lieutenant  Colonels  Mason  W.  Burt  and  Willard  D. 
Tripp,  Major  Brown,  and  numerous  captains  and  other  of- 
ficers, many  of  whom  are  happily  with  us  this  day  ;  one  at 
least,  with  his  honorable  scars,  and  without  whom  our  city 
treasury  could  not  well  be :  Capt.  George  A.  Washburn. 
Another  captain  there  was,  universally  acknowledged  to  be 
a  brave  soldier,  an  exemplary  comrade,  a  christian  patriot, 
who  was  last  seen  on  earth    at    the    head    of  his    advancing 


HISTORICAL    ADDRESS.  "J '^ 

column,  and  "the  jjlace  of  whose  sepulchre  no  man  knoweth 
unto  this  clay.  "  InsjMred  was  he,  inspired  were  they  all,  by 
that  lofty  motto  inscribed  on  their  colors  by  their  first  com- 
mander, "  Fidelity  to  Duty,  whenever  it  may  call,  wherever 
it  may  lead.  " 

For  the  next  four  years  what  trials,  what  sacrifices, 
what  anxieties,  what  sorrows,  what  alternations  of  hope  and 
despair,  was  our  good  city  called  upon  to  endure.  Her  streets 
became  recruiting  stations,  and  her  fields  camping  grounds. 
Fortunate  was  it  for  us  that  there  then  resided  here  a  gradu- 
ate of  West  Point,  who  had  done  gallant  service  in  the 
Mexican  and  Seminole  wars,  and  who  by  his  knowledge  of 
military  tactics  enabled  us  to  send  forth  one  of  the  best 
equipped  and  best  drilled  regiments  in  the  volunteer  service. 
The  7th  Regiment  by  its  conduct  on  many  a  well  fought 
field,  reflected  the  highest  credit  on  itself  and  its  fearless 
commander,  who  by  his  merit  and  bravery  rapidly  rose  from 
a  colonel  to  a  brigadier,  and  thence  to  a  major-general,  tak- 
ing part  in  many  desperate  encounters,  and  on  one  occasion 
called  to  assume  command  of  the  entire  army  c^f  the 
Potomac  ;  afterwards  entrusted  with  the  Department  of  the 
Susquehanna,  and  later  still  with  a  division  in  the  23d  Army 
Corps  at  Nashville  and  the  subsequent  operations  in  North 
Carolina  ;  on  all  occasions  conducting  himself  so  well  as  to 
receive  the  approbation  of  President  Lincoln,  and  a  com 
plimentary  banquet  from  his  appreciative  townsmen.  Need 
I  speak  his  name  .-*     Major-General  D.  N.  Couch. 

Through  those  long  sad  years  Taunton  constantly 
showed  her  devotion,  not  only  by  steadily  pouring  her  trea- 
sury into  the  nation's  lap,  but  by  sending  forth,  with  their 
life  in  their  hands,  more  than  half  her  fighting  men,  and 
more  than  one-tenth  of  her  entire  population,  including  men, 


74  OUAKTEK    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

women  ami  children.'  How  well  they  bore  their  part  in  that 
awful  conflict,  let  Antietam,  the  Wilderness,  Gaines'  Mills, 
Fredericksburg  Heights,  nay,  nay,  let  Port  Hudson  answer. 
Behold  yonder  memorial  tablet,  and  through  the  mist  that 
gathers  in  each  eye,  read  as  best  you  may  its  sad  answer, 
(jeorge  C.  Ruby,  Isaac  Dean  Paul,  William  H.  Bartlett,  and 
all  ye  who  likewise  fell,  face  toward  the  foe,  Heroic  Souls,  I 
pray  you  answer  !  Spirits  of  the  Departed,  where  are  ye  .'' 
Where  arc  ye } 

"  How  sleep  the   Brave,  who  sink  to  rest,' 
By  all  their  country's  wishes  blest  I 
When  Spring,  with  dewy  fingers  cold, 
Returns  to  deck  their  hallowed  mold, 
She  there  shall  dress  a  sweeter  sod, 
Than   Fancy's  feet  have  ever  trod. 

'*  By  fairy  hands  their  knell   is  rung. 
By  forms  unseen  their  dirge  is  sung; 
There  Plonor  comes,  a  pilgrim  gray, 
'I'o  bless  the  turf  that  wraps  their  clay; 
And  Freedom  shall  awhile  repair. 
To  dwell,  a  weeping  hermit,  there." 

TAUNTON    AS    .\    CITV 1 865. 

Xo  doubt  a  town  government  is  the  simplest  and  purest 
democrac}' ;  but  beyond  a  certain  limit  it  [jroves  impracticable. 
And  as  our  fathers  found  a  representative  system  neces- 
sary in  the  State,  so  does  every  populous  town,  in  its  own 
local  government.  It  has  its  evils  certainly,  at  present  ap- 
parently unavoidable,  but  every  well  governed  city  will  seek 
to  reduce  them  to  the  minimum.  This  impossibility  of 
deliberately  managing  public  affairs  by  the  voters  of  a  large 
town  became  so  evident  here,  as  it  had  elsewhere,  that  in  the 
year  1864  our  citizens  with  as  much  unanimity  as  could  rea- 
sonably be  expected  under  the  circumstances,  voted  to  adopt 

1.  Tnnntoii  ;in(l  lici-  citizens  raised  aljout  $200,000  for  the  war.  Her  jxvpulation  in 
1860  was  1.5..37r),  and  she  furnished  for  tlie  army  and  navy  1G52  men,  not  including  her 
sons  who  enlisted  from  other  towns  in  tins  and  other  states,  which  would  swell  the 
number  to  nearlv  two  thousand  men, 


HISTORICAL    ADDRESS.  75 

a  city  charter,  which  went  into  full  operation  on  the  2(1  ol 
January,  1865;  and  Taunton  was  thus  enrolled  as  the  thir- 
teenth city  in  the  Commonwealth.  In  my  opinion  it  was  a 
favorable  time  to  consider  the  expediency  of  resuming  her 
original  name  of  Cohannet,  but  of  this  I  may  not  be  the 
best  judge. 

The  influence  of  a  new  municipal  organization  soon 
manifested  itself  in  more  orderly  and  systematic  methods  of 
business;  in  a  more  efficient  police;  a  better  ec|uipped  fire 
department ;  an  increased  expenditure  for  schools  ;  in  a  free 
public  library,  now  containing  about  30,000  volumes  ;  and 
later  still  in  our  efficient  system  of  water  works,  so  largely 
due  to  the  energetic  efforts  of  our  then  Senator,  the  Hon. 
William  C.  Lovering.  From  1864  to  the  present  time  her 
industrial  interests  and  prosperity,  wMth  some  intermediate 
checks,  have  continued  to  advance,  until  she  now  has  a  pop- 
ulation estimated  at  over  26,000,  and  a  valuation  of  nearly 
S  19,000,000.  With  her  varied  industries,  her  advantageous 
])osition  at  the  head  of  tide  water,  her  well  equipped  schools, 
her  numerous  churches,  her  man}"  charitable  and  benexolent 
institutions  for  the  aged  and  infirm  in  mind  and  body,  for 
which  we  owe  so  much  to  a  lady's  recent  munificence,'  what 
is  to  prevent,  if  we  are  true  to  ourselves,  a  steady  increas- 
ing prosperity  for  the  future  .' 

Every  thoughtful  person  will  inquire  whether  oui-  moral 
and  intellectual  advance  is  keeping  pace  with  the  growth  ot 
our  material  and  industrial  interests.  As  our  "siher  and 
gold  is  multiplied,  and  all  that  we  hax'c  is  multiplied,  "  ha\e 
we  correspondingly  increased  our  faith,  our  sincerity,  our 
love  of  truth,  temperance  and  purity  of  heart  .■'  Is  our 
moral  fibre  stronger,  our  obedience  to  the  voice  of  conscience 

1.    The  Morton  Hospital,  presented  by  ^Irs.    Susan  Tillinghast  (Morton)  Kimball, 
()('  Hoston. 


"^6  QUARTER    MILLP:NXIAL    CELEBRATION. 

e|iiicker,  our  faith  in  eternal  verities  firmer  than  that  of  our 
Pil<;rini  sires  ?  Nay,  are  we  in  all  respects  holding  our  own  ? 
But  with  our  increased  advantages,  our  more  general  intel- 
lectual culture,  our  marvelous  progress  in  arts,  science  and 
manufactures,  our  better  understanding  of  the  laws  of  na- 
ture, our  more  general  possession  of  useful  knowledge,  our 
greater  freedom  of  thought  and  action,  our  increased  re- 
sources for  a  broader  and  higher  development  in  every  de- 
partment of  life,  why  should  we  be  content  with  even  what 
our  fathers  possessed  ?  Forgetting  those  things  which  are 
behind,  why  not  reach  forth  to  those  which  are  before  ? 

"New  occasions  teach  new  duties;   Time  makes  ancient  good  imcouth, 
'I'hey  must  upward  still  and  onward,  who  would  keep  abreast  of  truth. 
Lt),  before   us  gleam  her  camp -tires;   We  ourselves  must  pilgrims  be, 
Launch  our  Mayflower,  and  boldly  steer  through  the  desperate  winter  sea. 
Nor  attempt  the  Future's  portal,  with  the   Past's  hlood-rusted    key." 

FINALLY. 

If  we  would  elevate  our  city  into  that  position  in  the 
Commonwealth  which  her  situatit)n  and  advantages  fairly 
warrant  ;  if  we  would  retain  our  active  and  enterprising 
young  men  at  home  ;  and  attract  intelligent  and  public 
spirited  citizens  from  abroad  ;  if  we  would  promote  the  high- 
est welfare  of  our  busy  people  in  their  numerous  and  varied 
industries  ;  if  we  would  ever  feel  a  just  pride  in  our  Taunton 
citizenship,  and  hear  her  name  everywhere  uttered  with 
honor  and  respect,  we  should  not  only  cultivate  and  develop 
our  business  and  industrial  interests,  but  elevate  and  ad- 
\ance  our  moral,  intellectual  and  social  culture  to  the  high- 
est possible  standard,  and  especially  strive  "that  all  things 
may  be  so  ordered  and  settled  by  our  endeavors  upon  the 
best  and  surest  foundations,  that  jieace  and  happiness,  truth 
and  justice,  religion  and  piety  may  be  established  among  us 
for  all  generations.  "     Then  shall  our    "sons    grow    up    like 


POEM.  "jy 

young  plants,  our  daughters  be  as  the  polished  corners  of  the 
temple  ;  then  shall  our  garners  be  full  and  plenteous  with  all 
manner  of  store,  our  oxen  be  strong  to  labor,  and  our  flocks 
bring  forth  thousands  and  ten  thousands  in  our  fields.  Then 
shall  there  be  no  more  hostile  invasions,  no  more  going  forth 
to  war,  and  no  complaining  about  our  streets.  Happy,  hap- 
py are  the  people  that  are  in  such  a  case !  Yea,   blessed  is 

THAT    people    WHOSE    GOD    LS    THE     LoRD  !  " 


At  the  conclusion  of  the  Historical  Address,  which 
without  the  appendixes,  occupied  two  hours  in  its  delivery 
and  was  listened  to  by  the  audience  with  the  closest  atten- 
tion; the  "Star  Spangled  Banner,"  was  sung  by  Mrs.  Cora 
E.  Rhodes,  assisted  by  the  chorus  and  orchestra,  after  which 
the  poet  of  the  day,  Henry  W.  Colby,  Esq.,  delivered  the 
following : — 

• 

1639.        POEM.         1889. 


A  staunch  old  proverb  in  parental   tone 

Sagely  remarks — '"Let  well  enough  alone;" 

The  tale  is  told — and  fitly  told ;  what  need 

That  I,  whose  tribute  must  be  weak  indeed. 

Should  dim,  by  t,houghts  whose  lightness  might  profane, 

The  charm  these  reminiscent  hours  contain  ? 

But   Fashion,  with  its  many  curious  laws. 

Writes  in  its  code  an  after-dinner  clause, 

And  this  provides  that  though  profuse  the  feast, 

Yet  shall  the  list  of  viands  be  increased 

By  adding  superfluities  thereto. 

To  tempt  the  pampered  appetite  anew ; 


yS  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

'I'hus  was  I  summoned  to  this  bounteous  spread, 

Whose  guests  already  have  been  overfed. 

Upon  the  chance  presumption — we  will  say — 

I'hat   I   might  have  some  dainty  stored   away  : 

And  as  the  Jester  at  the  kingly  court, 

Must  needs  contribute  to  the  festive  sport. 

Though  airy  chaff  and  jokes  but  feebly  made,  * 

Mav  be,  perchance,  his  only  stock  in  trade, 

So   1,  though  neither  king  nor  lord  decree, 

Will   all  too  gladly  seal  my  loyalty, 

And,  minus  cap  and  bells,  will  forge  and  cast 

My  link  to  chain  the  Present  with  the  Past. 

Two  centuries  and  a  half  have  bottled  up 

The  wine  we  pour  to-day  from  memory's  cup. 

And  who  may  censure  if  the  overflow 

Should  swamp  some  champion's  wit  and  lay  him  low? 

What  would  ^our  ideal  Yankee  be  without 

His  proud  prerogative  to  sing  and  shout  ? 

Deal  gently,  then,  with  every  awkward  slip, 

If,  in  exuberance,  the  Muse  should  trip. 

And  while  it  labors  for  the  public  weal, 

Forget  its  follies  and  applaud  its  zeal. 

What  mines  of  thought  they  delve  who  backward  reach 
Two  cycles  and  a  half,   a  century  each ! 
Even   the  years  one  human   life  can  span. 
Have  almost  seemed  to  change  Creation's  plan — 
So  full  our  world,  so  barren  must  have  been 
The  fields  in   which  our  sires  were   wont  to  glean. 
Trouble   and   hardship,  danger  and  distress 
Haunted   the   old   Colonial   wilderness. 
And   rose  the  morning  sun  from  day  to  day, 


POEM.  79 

Upon   a  bleak  and  almost  cheerless  way. 

Existence  was  no  pastime  played   in   bowers 

Of  Fancy's  framing  decked  with  Fortune's  Howers, 

Where  ugly  shadows  in  each  pathway  crept. 

And  banished  comfort  even  while  they  slept. 

Pleasure  was  shorn   of  all   its  keenest  zest. 

And  happiest  moments  were  but  feebly  blest ; 

'I'hey  saw  not  as  have  these — their  children,  seen — 

A   Canaan   with   its  fields  of  living  green, 

Each  hour  some  new-born  joy  or  glad  surprise, 

And   Earth   reflecting  gleams  of   Paradise. 

Within  the  narrow  circle  of  their  lot, 

They  moved  in  line  precise  and  faltered  not, 

And   welcomed   hardship  with   a  joyous  pride, 

if  but  the  Lord  of  hosts  was  satisfied. 

Could  some  Van-Winkle  of  that  Pilgrim  band 
Rouse  from  his  lethargy  at  our  command 
And  stalk  abroad  upon  the  city  street, 
Our  programme  of  to-day  had  been  complete, 
The  pen  of  Irving  would  have  cried  a  halt. 
And  Jefiferson's  keen  art  have  been  at  fault 
To  frame  a  picture  of  the  waking  dream 
Of  one  who  thus  should  voyage  Oblivion's  stream. 
The  swiftly  passing  years  have  wrought  a  change 
Beyond  Imagination's  widest  range. 
And  he  in  veriest  truthfulness  might  say — 
"A  thousand  years  of  his  were  as  our  day.'' 
An  age  of  Science  has  affirmed  its  place. 
And  Art  is  pressing  Nature   in   the  race. 
No  longer  is  the  restless  soul  content 
With  blessing  in  its  crudest  element, 


8o  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

But  Life  is  pouring  on  us  to  the  fill. 

In   untold  measure  of  developed  skill. 

A  world  of  art,  the  landscape  and  the  field 

In  richer  fullness  of  their  harvests  yield. 

The  fruits  that  deck  our  Autumn's  diadem 

With  golden  gems,  were  quite  unknown  to  them : 

Even  the  flower  that  b}'  the  wayside  grew. 

Has  changed  its  tint  and  wears  a  lovelier  hue  : 

From  rudest  plant  that  bloomed  on  sterile  waste, 

A  dozen  cultured  scions  charm  the  taste, 

And  fresh-born   floriculture,  rich  and  fair, 

Shall  greet  the  wakened  vision  everywhere. 

What  shall  he  think  when  even  Nature  moves 

In  paths  so  foreign  to  her  old-time  grooves? 

With  firm  allegiance  to  the  God  he  served, 

His  faith  in  miracles  had  never  swerved. 

But  those  were  dimly  scrolled  on  History's  page — 

A  mystic  record  of  a  far-off  age, 

While  here,  beyond  his  senses  to  deny. 

Are  marvels  wrought  before  his  very  eye. 

Just  for  one  moment  bid  your  fancy  scan 

The  grim^and  startled  antiquarian  : 

In  mournful  loneliness  behold  him   stand 

A  stranger  in  the  strangest  kind  of  land. 

Who  might  well  doubt,   'mid  scenes  so  quaint  and  queer. 

That  ever  he  inhabited  this  sphere: 

His  untrained  senses  work  as  in   a  dream 

And  nineteenth-century  chaos  reigns  supreme  : 

In  vain  the  veteran  stretches  eyes  and  ears 

For  some  familiar  sign  of  other  years ; 

Was  this  the  land  that  he  was  nurtured  in — 


poKM.  Si 

This  restless  race  a  portion  of  his  kin  ? 

Could  modern  genius  with  its  mighty  tread, 

Steal  such  a  march  above  his  slumb'ring  head, 

And  progress  roll  in  such  a  tidal  wave, 

Nor  fail  to  start  the  sleeper  in  his  grave? 

And  whence  these  wonders — from  a  source  Divine, 

Or  strange  devices  sprung  from  Satan's  mine  ? 

For  truly  might  this  neophyte  of  ours 

Suspect  the  working  of  Satanic  powers, 

Where  every  whim  of  daily  life  is  hedged 

By  some  inventive  process  newly  fledged  : — 

Inventions  often  bearing  on  their  face 

Suspicions  of  a  diabolic  trace. 

What  more  infernal  to  a  casual  eye 

Than  harnessed  steam  like  fury  dashing  by, 

And  whence  these  bound  unless  to  Pluto's  realm. 

Who,  with  some  modern  Stygian  at  the  helm, 

Are  stalking  on  at  such  a  startling  speed. 

Propelled  by  fiery  breath  of  iron  steed  ? 

What  arrant  nonsense  could  be  more  complete. 

Than  shouts  the  newsboy  on  the  city  street — 

"  Evening  Gazette — last  issue — all  about 

Some  old-world  king  dethroned  or  counted  out  ?  " 

Was  ever  stranger  tale  of  fiction  heard. 

Or  could  be  human  fancy  more  absurd — 

To  hourly  voice  the  beat  of  distant  heart 

In  lands  so  many  thousand  miles  apart, 

And  ascertain  as  with  a  lightning-flash 

The  daily  balance  of  our  foreign  cash  ? 

And  yet,  old  friend,  that  doesn't  tell  it  all, 

For  hear  yon  chap  '"hallooing"  at  the  wall. 


82  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

While  every  whisper  that  his  Ups  convey 

Is  clearly  listened  to  for  miles  away. 

Munchausen's  monstrous  tales  are  told  anew, 

But  modern  sorcery  has  stamped  them  true  ; 

The  frozen  music  in  his  bvigle-horn 

No  more  with  empty  echo  mocks  in  scorn, 

Since  floods  of  song  and  peal  of  merry  laugh 

■■■  ■      \i 
Betray  the  secrets  of  the  phonograph. 

With  every  step  and  turn  our  Pilgrim  takes, 

Some  new  and  strange  discovery  he  makes  ; 

Along  the  old-time  lanes  the  street-car  wheels 

Press  with  bewildering  clatter  at  his  heels  : 

The  wayside  saplings,  shorn  as  though  by  fire. 

Are  joined  together  by  a  web  of  wire, 

Whose  pulsing  lines,  as  arteries  of  thought, 

An  instantaneous,  world-wide  voice  has  caught : 

The  tick  and  stroke  of  omnipresent  clock 

Salute  his  ear  with  nerve-disturbing  shock ; 

He  marked  his  hours,  if  we  believe  the  yarn. 

By  chasing  solar  shadows  round  the  barn. 

Or  if  the  sun  for  cause  should  fail  to  tell. 

An  hour-glass  did  the  business  quite  as  well. 

One  glance  within  a  photographic  place, 

And  lo  !  his  portrait  stares  him  in  the  face, 

While  vague  remembrances  of  patience  worn. 

Struggling  with  sullen  fire  on  frosty  morn. 

Mingled  with  other  memories  which  wear 

A  dangerous  nearness  with  the  verb  "  to  swear,  "- 

These  all  steal  o'er  him  as  his  senses  catch 

Their  first  impressions  of  a  friction-match. 

We  have  a  proverb  held  in  honored  trust — 


POEM.  83 

"Thrice  is  he  armed  who  hath  his  quarrel  just;" 

We  render  this  upon  a  broader  plan, 

For  six  times  armed  is  our  revolver-man ; 

How  old   Miles  Standish  would  have  leaped  for  joy, 

Had  he  possessed  our  military  toy, 

And  Indian-hunting  would  have  had  a  boom 

To  hurry  many  a  native's  day  of  doom. 

"  'Twere  hard  to  tell  which  shall  impress  the  most, — 
The  merits  or  the  faults  our  age  can  boast; 
As  every  crown  is  mated  with  a  cross, 
And  Fate  permits  no  gain  without  some  loss. 
So  shall  our  newly-wakened  friend  tind  cause 
To  frown  upon  some  strange  and  startling  flaws  ; 
Not  all  is  gold  that  glitters,  and,  alas — 
Too  often  flaunts  its  substitute  in  brass ; 
Utopia  still  remains  a  distant  dream 
Of  inspiration  for  the  poet's  theme, 
And  mighty  strivings  for  the  unattained. 
Leave  present  joys  unnoticed  or  disdained. 
The  press  and  push  of  Life  leave  little  room 
For  the  old  halcyon  days  of  bud  and  bloom  ; 
Scarce  known  is  Youth;  the  infant,  in  his  pride. 
Has  banished  cradle,  and  in  state  doth  ride ; 
Old-fashioned  childhood  lingers  as  a  myth  ; 
Twelve-year  old  Jack  is  known  as  Mr.   Smith  ; 
And  half-grown  urchins  vaunt  their  manhood  more 
Than  did  their  ancient  grandsires  at  four-score. 
Along  with  lavish  luxury  and  taste 
March  side  by  side  extravagance  and  waste ; 
From  Croesus'  daily  meal  the  crumbs  alone 
Would  make  the  old  Thanksgiving  table  groan. 


84  OTARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

And  God   is  mocked  in  praying  for  the  poor 

Too  often  hungering  at  the  rich  man's  door. 

Confusing  customs  lacking  seeming  sense 

Crowd  to  the  front  with  arrogant  pretense  ; 

Time  was  when  honest  people,  it  is  said, 

Pronounced  their  prayers  and  tumbled  into  bed. 

And  deemed  a  Christian's  duty  fairly  done 

With  business  ended  at  the  set  of  sun  ; 

Not  so  with  us,   who  entertain   a  freak 

Which  makes  existence  vastly  more  unique; 

Scouting  at  Nature's  laws,  which  seem  to  mark 

Daylight  for  business,  and  for  sleep  the  dark  : 

We  paralyze  old  customs  and  dragoon 

The  work  of  morning  into  afternoon: 

Thus,  paradoxical,  our  matinee 

Puts  in  its  claim  the  latter  half  of  day; 

The  proper  dinner  is  an  evening  rout. 

And  supper  crowds  to-morrow's  breakfast  out, 

Disturbing  habits  by  tradition  fixed, 

And  rendering  morn  and  eve  a  little  mixed; 

Hence  doth  our  Pilgrim  find  the  streets  at  night 

Aglow  with  modern-born  electric  light. 

Whose  spectral  rays  glare  at  him  as  the  ghosts 

Of  fallen  stars  on  lofty  hitching  posts. 

Note    his    amazed   expression    as    he   reads 
Emblazoned    on   our   seal — "A    woman    leads;" 
Alas,    what    doubtful    change    of   base    is    this 
That   throws    its    shadow   over   human    bliss? 
It    was   not    so   in   ages    e're    he    slept 
When    woman    silence   in    the    churches    kept. 
And   deemed    her   worldly   mission    best    fulfilled 


POEM.  85 

In    following    where    her    legal    master    willed: 

And    yet,    my    dear    and    resurrected   sir, 

Sadly    have    you    misapprehended    her, 

¥or    verily,    did    not    the   record    score 

Her    leadership    in    Eden    long   before? 

What   if  in   part    our    speech    belie    our    act 

And  reads    our   motto    fancy    more    than    fact, — 

What    if   to-day    we    rest    our   strongest    claim 

In    kind    perpetuation    of    her  name, 

Thro.ugh    trade-mark   or    an    advertising   bill 

For   pleasure    wagon    or    a    cotton-mill? 

Better    by    far    her    memory    thus   end^almed 

Than    on    some    stagnant    wave   of    life    becalmed. 

Whose    many    daughters,    spinster    though    she    was, 

Shall    find    a    cheering    music    in    the    buzz 

Of    busy    wheels,    whose    kind    though    rugged    play 

Is    charming    poverty    and    want    away. 

'Tis   not    the    province    of    the    bard    to    dwell 
Whereon    the    orator    might   better    tell, 
But   sundry    notions    of    "Ye    olden    time," 
Inspire    a    passing    comment    from    our   rhyme. 
W't    read    that    ''should    the    Governor-elect 
Throw    that    high    office    into    disrespect 
By   non-acceptance,    when   the    public    voice 
Through    vote    unanimous    declared    their    choice, 
Due    cause    for   declination    he    must    show 
( )r    pay    a    fine    of    twenty    pounds    or    so,  "" 
Let    modern    statesmen    ruminate    on    that. 
When    next    they    pass    their    office-seeking    hat : 
With    contrite    heart    look    back    upon  an  age 
When    politicians    scrambled    not    for    wage. 


86  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

And    when    desire    for    hij>;h    position    had 
Small    charm    to    lure    your    Puritanic    dad. 
If  Governors    were    priced    at   twenty   pounds, 
What    limit,    think    you,    of  financial   bounds 
Would    circumscribe,    at    proper    market    rate 
Some   of   our    minor    officers    of   state, — 
Whose   Titan    struggles   for   official   loaves, 
Would    striJD   the    laurels   from  a  dozen    Joves .'' 

Among   old    penalties    for    slips    from    grace, 
We    find    this    pointer    stares    us    in    the    face ; — 
Shirking   church    service    cost    the    absentee 
In    form    of   fine,    a    round    ten-shilling  fee. 
P'rom    this    small    straw    we   find    the   truth    evolved 
Concerning    one    old    problem    long   unsolved  ; 
Why   those   grim    saints  should    take    such    keen   delight 
In    service,    morning,    afternoon    and    night, 
Was    never    quite    apparent    till    we    read 
The   old   colonial    statutes   on    that   head. 
For,    facts    and    premises   brought    down    to    us, 
We    reasoned    to    a   fair  conclusion    thus — 
If   we,   whose    Sabbath    homes  are    all    aglow 
With    every   comfort   that    a   soul    can  know, 
And  piety   by   dint  of  fashion's  aid, 
Combines    devotion    with    a   dress-parade. 
Where   inspiration    generates    in    style. 
Within    some   gorgeous    architectural    pile. 
Upon    whose    sunlit   panes    the    artist   paints 
His   grotesque   fancies   of   the    honored    saints, 
(Creating    pictures,    which    to    unschooled    eyes 
Are    those    of    angels    in    extreme    disguise.) 
With    more    than    kind    provision    made    for    those, 


pof<:m.  87 

Who    wish    relij^ion    min<j;lcd  with    repose, — 

The    studied    comfort    of    luxuriant    pews, 

Where    rhyme    and    reason    both    suggest    a    snooze, 

While    padded    Hoors    as    flowery   beds    of  ease. 

Turn    most    invitingly    to    bended    knees, 

With    cultured    choir,    who    render   in   their    sfra/iis, 

All    shades  of   meaning    which    that    noun    contains ; 

And    last,    though    not    by    any    means    the    least, 

The   easy   eloquence    of   gifted    priest. 

Whose    rarely    used    anathemas    are    hurled 

With    much    discretion    at   the    outside    world, 

Thereby    implying    that    his   favored    flock 

Are    no    prospective  part    of    Satan's    stock, 

If  all    this    panoply    of    Christian    art 

Wake    not    devotion    in    the    modern    heart, 

What    strange    inducement,    human    or    divine 

Compelled    attendance    at    the    Pilgrim    shrine  ? 

Surely    not    comfort    lured    the    devotee 

In    paths,    where,    plainly,    comfort    could    not    be. 

Nor   could   the    ancient    preacher's    threatening    tones 

Bring    balm    of   soothing    to   the    sinner's  groans 

The    charm   of    music    held    but    little    part, 

And    e'en    that    little    seldom    reached    high    art. 

Where    voices    unattuned    launched    into    song 

And    dragged    all    shades    of   melody   along. 

But    here    the    record    haply    solves    the    doubt 

And    lets    a    long   mysterious    secret  out. 

Who    questions   that    a    moderate    fine    to-day 

Might   guide    and    keep    us   in    the   better   way 

And   just   the    faintest    touch    of    sacrifice 

Develop    light    for    our   beclouded    eyes  ? 


88  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL     CELEBRATION. 

Is    there    not    danger   that    the    Christian    song — 
"  Salvation's    free, "    is   pitched    a    little    strong, 
As   each   one    knows    that   what    he    values  most 
Is   so   esteemed    with   some    regard    to    cost  ? 

Another  freak    of    Pilgrim    enterprise 
Forbade    those   Sabbath    saints    to    close    their    eyes, — 
The    which    was    judged    a   pious  breach    of    peace, 
To   be    reported    to    the    town    police. 
The   old    police    at    times   were    busy    men, 
If   sermons    now    are    types    of   sermons  then : 
And    this    stirs    up    the    point    we    wish    to   state, — 
That   naps    in    church    are    subjects  for    debate : 
Why    should   the    pulpit    'scape    its    proper    due 
And    all    the    odium    fall    upon    the    pew  ? 
Cause    and    effect    as    equal    factors    pose, 
Which   quite    explains    the    wearied   layman "s   doze. 
And   he    who    cannot   keep    his    flock    awake 
May   fairly    rate    his    calling   a  mistake. 

Ah,    well,    the    wayward    world    must    have    its    joke 
Though   souls    are    weary    and    though    hearts    be    broke 
Tis   well    to    banish    carking   care    awhile. 
And    solace    sorrow    with    a    sunny    smile. 
Pleasure    and    pain    are    proper   counterparts — 
A    twin-born   heritage    of    human    hearts. 
And    whether    sadness    shrouds    us    with    its    spell, 
Joy    has    its    compensating   claims    as    well. 
Life    lacks    in    flavor    did    we    not    admit 
The    sauce    of   humor    and    the    spice    of    wit. 
And    if   our    Pilgrim    fathers    seldom    smiled 
Or    merrily    their    weary    hours   beguiled. 


roEM.  <^9 

Then    do    their    virtues    claim    a   brighter    hue, 

Reflected    through    an    atmosphere    so    blue. 

Mcthinks   our    age    in    this    has    wiser   grown 

And    taken   on    a   better,   healthier   tone; 

No    longer   is   the    solemn    phiz    a   sign 

Of   any    kinship    to    a    life    divine, 

Nor   do    funereal    features   guarantee 

Their   owner's    conscience    altogether    free : 

Even    the    parson    airs    his    pun   with    grace 

And    smiles   adorn    the    worthy    deacon's    face ; 

Dramatic    art,    so    long   beneath    the    ban. 

No    longer    horrifies   the    Puritan, 

And    Shakespeare's  shadows — (or    Lord    liacon's — which  ?) 

Are    flitting    almost    in    the    cloister's    niche. 

It   were    an    easy   task    to   jog    along 
In    simple   verse    and    never-ending   song: 
The   brain    revolves   as    doth   a    school-boy's    top. 
And    once    in    motion    scarce    knows    when    to    stop. 
Hour    after    hour   the    Muse    might    ramble    on 
Amid    the    shadows    of   the    days    agone, 
And    newer  thoughts    and    fresher   fancies   still 
Would    throng   Imagination's   path   at   will : 
Vast   is    the    theme    and   worthy    of   the    pen 
Of    loftiest    flight    among   the    poet-ken : 
If   but    a    master   hand    might  press    the    keys 
That    chime    our    rich    heroic    harmonies, 
Bringing    the   glories    of   the    Past    to   view 
In    tints    which    I,    poor    limner,    cannot    do 
Then    were    a    picture    drawn    so    grandly    fair. 
That    all    the    world    with    pride    its    fame    might    share  : 
But   I    must    deem   my    tribute    fittest   paid 


90  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Through    thought   unspoken   and    with    word    unsaid, 

Content   am    I    to   chant    in    lighter    lays 

And    wake    the    echos    of   more    peaceful   days. 

Nor   were    our   genealogic   jubilee 
Complete,   unless    we    climb    the    family    tree 
And    greet  those    scions  who    have    held  aloof 
So    many    years    from    the    maternal    roof; 
For    Taunton    was    a    mother-town,    forsooth. 
With    wayward    children    in    their    earlier    youth, 
Who    needs    must   fold    their   tents    and,    Arab-like, 
For  fresher  fields    and    newer   pastures   strike, 
And    in    their  fond    conceit  to   go    alone. 
Must    set    up    little    townships    of    their    own, 
Around    the    hearthstone    of   their    childhood's    home. 
They    need    no    welcome,    bidding  them   to    come, 
For   in    the    free    and    easy   reach    of    all. 
Our   latchstring   hangs  upon    the   outer   wall; 
The    mother-heart    in    self-complacent    mood. 
Has   only   plaudits   for    her   wandering   brood 
And    grants    them,    with    no    small    degree    of    pride, 
A    place    of    honor    by   the    parent's  side. 

Perchance,    when   two   more   centuries    shall    have   llown. 
And    with    the    Past   our    Present  shall    be    known, 
Our   children's    children    with    their   speech    and    song 
Shall    meet    and    pass   these    compliments    along ; 
With    rev'rent    hand    shall    take    the    volume    down. 
Which    tells    the    story    of    the    grand    old    town. 
While    we,    as    Pilgrims   of    a    later    age. 
Shall    furnish    copy    for   the    second    page. 
And    will    they,    think   you,    as   our   names    are    told, 


POEM.  91 

Weave    with    our    memories  some    threads   of   gold  ? 

Will    they   in    truthfulness    had    voice    to   say 

As    we    have   boasted    of   our    sires    to-day  ? 

Shall    they,    as   we    have    done,    a    story   tell, — 

That   for   our   day    and    age,    we    builded    well, 

Or   must    their    bard,    with    fetter    on    his    tongue, 

In   kindness    leave    our   eulogy    unsung  ? 

Duty   enlarges    with    advancing   years : 

Louder    our   call    than    that    which   reached    the    ears 

Of   those    whose    narrow    pathway   day    by   day, 

Within   the    handbreath    of    a    circle   lay; 

Shall    our   ten    talents,    coined    of    brightest  gold, 

For    lack    of   use   grow    dim    with    rust    and    mould, 

Nor    richer    harvest    reap    than    they   have   done, 

To   whom    the    Master    trusted    with    but   one  ? 

And    here    a    lesson    read,    you    whose    life's    toil 

Has   been    a    struggle    mainly    for    its    spoil — 

You    who    have   gathered    honey   all    your    lives 

Like    human    bees    in    mercenary    hives — 

Who,    from    some    chance-born   height   of   vantage  place. 

Have    looked   not    Fate   but    Fortune    in    the   face — 

Feeding   with   golden    spoons   from    Mammon's   plates, 

With    little   thought    of    Earth's    unfortunates, — 

Ky   so    much    more    as    Fortune's   friendly   smile, 

Through    kindly   Providence    hath    blessed    your    while 

Above    those    patient   souls    whose    lot    was  cast 

Within    a    barren    and    unfruitful    past, 

So   presses    with    an    unrelenting   claim, 

A    call    of   duty    which    to    shun    is    shame. 

Of    what    avail    the    wealth    of   millionaire. 

Whose    days    are  freighted    with    a   world   of   care, 


92  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

If    increased    riches    open    not    the    door 

For   love   and    charity    in    greater    store  ? 

If    merely    counting    dollars    were    a   joy, 

Then    blest    indeed    the    banker's    office-boy, 

Whose    fortune,    though    it    scarce   conceals    his    rags, 

Is    quite    the    equal    of   old    Moneybags. 

The    rich    may    live    and    die :  what    better    they, 

Lifeless    and    earth-bound    than    the   common    clay, 

And    hath    not    Scripture,    as    the    text    is   given. 

Almost    denied    to    such    the    hope    of    Heaven  ? 

Let   new-born    inspiration   from    this    hour, 

Lend    to   your   gold    a  more   benignant  power: 

Break   the    charmed    circle    which    has    wrought    this    spell 

Of    loving    wealth,    not    wisely,    but    too    well,    ■ 

And    grant    the   crowning   grace    our   city    needs 

To    round    the    record    of    her   better   deeds. 

Enlarge    her    charities    and    hush    the    sneers 

That    all    too    often    smite    our    tingling    ears ; 

With    liberal    hand    endow    the   sick    man's   home, 

Within    whose    portals    health    and   hope    may    come: 

He    more    than    generous — be   just   to   those 

Who    saved   your    country    from    your   country's    foes ; 

Spanning    these    many    years   of    retrospect, 

it   seems    a    sorry   and    a   strange    neglect, 

That   bade    those    heroes    in    despondent    mood, 

No   longer    wait    their   city's   gratitude ; 

May    those    who    ring    the    next    centennial  '  bell 

With    happier  voice    than    ours   their    story    tell 

Of    monumental   benefactions    strewn 

In    every    path    where    want    or    need    is    known. 

I!ut    Time,    which    brings    all    mundane    things    to   grief, 


POEM.  93 

Bids   me   afford    your   patient   ears    relief ; 

Yet    would    I,    ere    I   set    my  task   aside, 

Pledge  the    old    hamlet   with   a  loyal   pride: 

Forever   be    her   memories    a   joy 

Beyond   all    hostile    fortune   to    destroy ; 

In    hours    of    needed    rest  from    toil,    I    find 

Her  charm    of   peacefulness  exceeding   kind : 

The    trees    that    shade    her    pleasant    streets    and    ways. 

A  lingering    vestige    of   the    earlier  days, 

Are   gladsome    in    the    eyes    of   those   who    prize 

The   bounteous   gifts    which    Nature's    hand   supplies : 

The   fields   o'er    which    I    rambled    when   a    lad. 

Then    only    with   the    simplest    verdure    clad. 

Have    laid    aside    their    coat    of  native   green, 

And   happy    home-life    paints  anew    the    scene ; 

Those   modest   cottage-homes  and   garden-plots 

Are    more    than    brown-stone    fronts    and   city    lots. 

"God    made    the    country   and    man    made   the    town," 

The   scribe    of   poesy    hath    written   down, 

And   though   both    town    and    country    God    hath   willed. 

And   each    with    tokens   of    His    goodness    filled, 

Yet   rustic    Nature   wears   a   happier   face 

Than    ever    shone  from    out   the    market-place. 

Peace   be    within    thy    walls  fair    home    of   ours. 
And    prospering    airs    possess    thy    sheltering   bowers : 
And    as    the    coming   generations    ring 
The    changes    that    successive    epochs    bring. 
May   there   be    written,    never    less    than    now, 
A    fond,    maternal    welcome    on    thy   brow. 
As    an    old    homestead    to    the    wearied   heart, 
Of   all    things   else   remains   a   joy   apart, 


94  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEP.RATIOK. 

Reaching    with    outstretched    hand    to    every    son, 

Though    he    be    prodigal    or   prudent    one, 

So    may    this    homestead    of    a   larger   kin. 

With    Memory's    echoes    lure    her   children    in; 

May   there   be    tender   voices   in    each   breeze 

That   waves    with    rustling   ripple    through    her   trees ; 

Sermons    in    every    rock    and    stone,    which    preach 

With    more    than    human    eloquence   of    speech ; 

Books    in    her    lakes    and  brooks,    whose    magic   lore 

Charms    as    a   loving   study   evermore, 

And    good    in    all    that  tells    us    Nature's    truth, 

Which    never   quite   betrays   the    dreams   of    Youth, 

But   ever   and    anon    lights    up   the    path 

That   leads    the   toiler   toward    Life's    aftermath, 

And    he    must    senseless    be    and    dull    indeed, 

Who    in    his   Autumn   hours   has   failed   to  read 

Among   the   lessons   that   his   years  have   brought. 

That   none   were    plainer   or   more   kindly  taught. 

Than    that    which    writes    the    home    that   gave    him   birth 

As  one   among   the   dearest   spots    on    earth. 


The  closing  hymn  America  was  then  sung  with  telling 
effect  by  the  Beethoven  Society  and  the  great  assemblage, 
accompanied  by  Reeves'  Band,  after  which  Rev.  Charles  H. 
Learoyd  pronounced  the 


BENEDICTION. 


The  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  keep 
your  hearts  and  minds  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  (iod,  and  of 
His  son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ;  and  the  Blessing  of  God  Almighty, 
the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  amongst  you,  and 
remain  with  you  always.     Amen. 


NECK  OF  LAND, 

A  Business  Centre  in  the  Olden  Time. 


f;n?«-Hm««y  a 


r^'t 


ANCHOR  FORGE, 
The  Original  i'aunton  Iron  Works. 


THE   BANQUET. 


At  the  conclusion  of  the  exercises  in  Music  Hall,  car- 
riages were  at  hand  to  convey  the  invited  guests  of  the  cit\' 
to  Agricultural  Hall,  on  the  Bristol  County  Fair  Grounds, 
for  the  appointed  Banquet,  served  in  admirable  style  by  the 
renowned  caterer,  T.  D.  Cook  of  Boston. 

Plates  were  laid  for  six  hundred  persons,  and  that  num- 
ber were  supposed  to  be  present.  The  Hall  was  tastefully 
decorated  and  music  was  furnished  by  Reeves'  American 
Band. 

After  the  company  were  seated.  Mayor  Hall  invited 
Rev.  John  P.  Forbes,  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Society,  Taunton,  to  invoke  a  Divine  Blessing,  which  he  did, 
as  follows  : — 

O  thou,  who  wast  and  art  and  art  to  come,  we  bow  before 
thee  in  spirit.  Age  after  age  thy  children  seek  thee  and  find  that 
of  thy  faithfulness  and  mercy  there  is  no  end.  We  reverently 
thank  thee  for  all  the  blessings  which  we  enjoy.  Deeply  mindful 
of  the  hardship,  the  sacrifice  and  the  noble  fidelity  of  our  Fathers, 
— we  pray  that  we,  thy  servants,  may  be  strong  and  true  to  do  the 
work  laid  upon  us,  that  every  good  we  have  received  from  the  past 
may  be  bettered  in  our  hands,  and  sacredly  preserved  for  the  fu- 
ture. Humbly  we  ask  that  thy  Kingdom  may  come  and  thy  will  be 
done  in  our  beloved  land  and  in  all  the  earth.  And  as  thine  is 
the  honor  and  the  glory,  so  shall  the  praise  be  thine,  forever  and 
ever.    Amen. 


g6  OUARTEK    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

When  amjile  justice  had  been  done  to  the  bountiful  sup- 
ply of  delicacies  provided  for  the  occasion,  the  President  of 
the  Day,  Mayor  Hall,  introduced  the  post-prandial  exercises 
in  the  following^  fitting  words  : — 

Ladies  a/id  Gentlemen  : — 

We  are  observing  to-day  a  festival  of  great  interest  to  our 
city.  Taunton  may  well  feel  proud  of  her  long  and  success- 
ful career.  Her  sons  and  daughters  returned  home  on  this, 
her  250th  Anniversary,  may  well  exchange  mutual  greetings  and 
congratulations. 

Proper  indeed  was  it  to  commence  the  festivities  of  this  occa- 
sion by  a  historical  review  of  our  past,  and  the  recital  of  our  rec- 
ord in  verse. 

Proper  indeed  is  it,  then,  to  gather  around  these  tables,  to 
pledge  the  health  of  old  Taunton  and  wish  her  long  life  and  pros- 
perity. It  is  not  for  me,  however,  to  occupy  the  time  of  the  guests 
here  assembled  ;  that  duty  falls  to  the  lot  of  abler  hands  than 
mine.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  present  to  you  our  toastmaster,  an 
honored  citizen,  Judge  William   Henry  Fox. 

Judge  P'ox,  on  being  thus  introduced,  proceeded  to  say: 

Afr.  Mayor,  Ladies  and  Gentle7)ien : — 

Let  me  proceed  at  once  to  the  duties  assigned  me,  which 
consist  chiefly  in  applying  the  torch  to  the  howitzers  all  about 
me  which  are  loaded  to  the  muzzle  and  stand  waiting  to  be 
fired.  They  will  make  a  tremendous  report,  and  doubtless  hit  the 
mark;  but  we  will  not  be  alarmed,  ladies,  for  they  will  fire  over 
our  heads  and  will  not  hurt  us  ;  for  they  are  firing  at  their  ances- 
tors to-day,  and  they  ought  to  aim  high.  Our  first  sentiment  is  as 
follows : — 

The  President  of  the  United  States: — The  chosen  head 
of  a  nation  whose  corner  stone  is  yonder  Plymouth  Rock. 

"(Jh,   Land  of  Lands:   to  thee  we  give 
Our  prayers,  our  hopes,  our  service  free; 

For  thee  thy  sons  shall  nobly  live. 
And   at   thy   need,  shall   die   for  thee.  "' 

The  President,  in  response  to  an  invitation  tendered 
him  to  join  these  festivities,  replies  as  follows: — 


Dear  Sir  : — 


THE    BANfQUET,  97 

Executive  Mansion,  Washington, 
April  27,  1889. 


The  President  directs  me  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
note  of  the  24th  inst.,  enclosing  an  invitation  to  attend  the  250th 
Anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  to  convey  to 
the   committee,  through    you,    his    sincere  thanks  for  the  courtesy. 

He  desires  me  to  say  that  it  would  give  him  much  pleasure 
to  be  present  on  this  historic  occasion,  and  he  appreciates  the 
friendly  terms  in  which  you  urge  his  acceptance,  but  his  public 
duties  will  most  likely  pre\'ent  him  from  leaving  the  Capital  at  the 
date  of  your  celebration. 

Very  Respectfully  Yours, 

E.  W.  Halford, 

Private  Secretary. 
Rev.  S,  Hopkins  Emery, 

Secretnry  of  Committee  of  In\itr\ti(in,  Taunton,  Mass. 

The  Vice-President  who  gave  us  strong  encouragement 
to  hope  for  his  presence,  has  at  last  found  it  impossible  to 
be  with  us.  But  he  has  sent  us  an  interesting  letter  which' 
I  will  read. 

Rhinecliff,  N.  Y.,  May  27th,   1889. 
Gentlemen: — 

I  have  delayed  a  reply,  hoping  to  be  able  to  accept  the 
cordial  invitation  with  which  I  harve  been  honored,  to  be  present 
and  join  in  your  Anniversary  celebration  on  the  4th  and  5th  of 
June. 

It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  visit  your  beautiful  and 
enterprising  city  on  the  250th  Anniversary  of  its  settlement  as  it 
would  also  to  visit  your  neighbors  at  Middleboro',  where  my 
ancestors  and  some  of  their  descendants  have  lived  since  Cieorge 
Morton  landed  at  Plymouth  in  1623,  but  I  regret  extremely  to  find 
that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  avail  myself  of  the  generously 
proffered  hospitalities  of  the  City  of  Taunton  on  so  interesting  an 
occasion. 


98  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

With  the  best    wishes    for    the   perfect   success    of  your  cele- 
bration, in  which  I  naturally  take  deep    interest,   and    hearty    con- 
gratulation upon   the  marvellous    progress  of  Taunton  during  the 
two  hundred  and  fifty  years  that  have  passed, 
1  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen. 

Very  faithfully  and  truly  yours, 

Lkvi    p.    Morton. 

Messrs.  Richard  Henry  Hall,  Samuel  Hopkins  Emery,  John 
Williams  Dean  Hall,  William  Eddy  Fuller,  Henry  Morton  Lovering 
and  George  Albert  Washburn,  Committee  on  Invitations, 

There  is  no  more  attractive  town  in  New  England  than 
Easton,  a  part  of  our  "  North  Purchase.  "  We  all  know 
that  she  owes  her  prosperity  and  her  beauty  very  largely  to 
the  thrift  and  enterprise  and  the  munificent  generosity  and 
public  spirit  of  the  elder  Oliver  Ames,  his  sons  and  his 
grandsons. 

We  welcome  our  Chief  Magistrate  to-day,  not  merely 
on  account  of  the  high  office  which  he  so  gracefully  fills,  but 
also  because  he  is  a  son  of  Easton,  and  so,  by  derivation,  a 
son  of  Taunton.  I  give  you — The  Commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts ; — and  present  to  you  His  Excellency  the  Gov- 
ernor. 

RESPONSE    BY    GOVERNOR    AMES. 

Friends  and  A'^eig/ibors : — 

For  three  months  past,  by  the  advice  of  my  physician,  I 
have  denied  myself  the  pleasure  of  attending  many  gatherings  of 
my  fellow-citizens,  and  against  his  protest  1  am  here  to-day.  Hav- 
ing had  my  residence  from  my  birth  in  the  town  of  Easton,  which 
for  over  sixty  years  was  a  part  of  your  territory,  known  as  the 
Taunton  North  Purchase  ;  being  familiar  from  my  childhood  with 
all  that  affects  you  ;  knowing  a  large  number  of  you  personally  and 
a  larger  number  by  reputation ;  I  could  not  refrain  from  joining 
with  you  in  celebrating  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
the  town  of  Taunton. 

I  am  here  to-day  as  (lovernor  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 
in  her  name  I  bring  to  you    the    congratulations  of  all  her  people. 


THE     BANQUET.  99 

They  see  in  your  cily  an  example  of  what  a  New  England  com- 
munity should  be,  and  with  you  they  rejoice  that  you  have  had  so 
many  years  of  corporate  existence,  that  you  have  employed  them 
so  usefully,  and  that  there  is  so  much  of  promise  for  you  in  the 
future.  'I  he  future  of  a  community  in  which  the  distinctively 
New  England  qualities  of  thrift,  enterprise  and  honesty  are  en- 
couraged and  maintained  cannot  be  doubtful. 

But  I  come  to  you  to-day  as  a  neighbor  and  friend,  as  well 
as  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  I  desire  to  say  to  you  a 
few  friendly  words,  rather  than  to  talk  to  you  officially.  During 
my  boyhood  and  early  manhood  I  saw  much  of  Taunton  and  its 
people,  and  1  have  always  taken  an  interest  and  felt  a  pride  in  all 
that  concerns  them.  Forty  years  ago,  Taunton  was  the  place  at 
which  my  father's  firm  shipped  much  of  their  manufactured  goods, 
and  at  which  they  did  their  banking.  I  was  constantly  visiting  it 
in  their  service.  Although  the  building  of  railroads  and  other 
causes  have  so  changed  the  channels  of  business  that  Taunton  is 
of  much  less  importance  to  me  in  a  business  way,  still  I  see  here 
a  centre  around  which  cluster  not  only  the  memories  of  the  past 
but  the  living  interest  of  the  present. 

As  time  has  gone  by  I  have  seen  your  village  grow  into  a  city 
and  your  prosperity  steadily  increase.  I  have  watched  the  growth 
of  your  manufacturing  interests,  and  I  have  seen  them  grow  from 
small  beginnings  to  a  magnitude  of  which  any  community  may 
well  be  emulous.  Your  business  men  are  enterprising  and  public 
spirited  ;  your  workers  are  energetic  and  cheerful ;  your  homes  are 
comfortable  and  happy ;  your  streets  are  safe  and  peaceful ;  you 
have  the  advantages  which  churches  and  schools  and  other  educa- 
tional agencies  provide.  You  are,  as  a  whole,  a  prosperous  and 
happy  people  and  in  your  prosperity  and  happiness  your  neighbors 
share. 

Your  mission  is    not  by    any   means   ended.     You  have  seen 
two  hundred  and  fifty   years    of    growth    and    prosperity.     While 
your  people  remain  what  they  have   been    and  what  they  now  are, 
you  will  continue   the    career    of  usefulness    and    prosperity  upon' 
which  you  have  so  well  proceeded. 

The  Judiciary    of  Massachusetts  : — Honored    at  home  ; 

respected  wherever  the   English    language  is  spoken.      With 

affectionate    pride    the    mother    town    receives    back   to  his 

childhood's  home  to-day,  a    son    whose    distinguished  career 


lOO  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

has  added  luster  to  an  already  eminent  name.  I  hav^e  the 
honor  to  present  our  Chief  Justice,  the  Honorable  Marcus 
Morton. 

RESPONSE  BY  HON.  MARCUS  MORTON. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  a?id  Gentlejnm  ■  — 

One  of  the  blessings  of  an  occasion  like  this,  is  that  it  opens 
the  hearts  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  makes  them 
hospitably  and  kindly  disposed,  not  only  toward  each  other,  but 
especially  toward  us  who  are  present  on  this  interesting  anniver- 
sary, revisiting  the  home  of  our  fathers.  I  have  been  deeply 
touched,  as  I  have  moved  about  among  you,  by  the  hearty  hand 
shakes  and  the  cordial  welcome  which  I  have  received  on  every 
side.  As  Judge  Fox  has  said,  I  am  Taunton  born  and  bred  ;  this 
is  my  native  place,  the  home  of  my  youth,  and  as  I  stand  here 
to-day,  I  feel  deeply  the  truth  of  the  poet's  thought,  that  however 
far  we  may  wander,  whatever  new  ties  and  associations,  and  inter- 
ests we  form,  the  heart  turns  fondly  to  the  old  home. 

It  has  been  assigned  to  me  to  respond  to  the  toast  to 
"The  Judiciary  of  Massachusetts."  I  might  enlarge  upon  the 
dignity  and  importance,  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  that 
important  department  of  our  government. 

But,  to-day,  naturally,  Taunton  is  uppermost  in  the  thoughts 
of  all,  and  I  have  thought  that  it  would  not  be  out  of  place  if  I 
devoted  the  few  minutes  allotted  to  me  to  the  pleasant  task  of 
calling  to  your  minds  the  part  which  Taunton  has  had  in  furnish- 
ing judges  for  the  service  of  the  commonwealth  since  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution. 

Two  of  your  citizens  have  been  judges  of  our  highest  judicial 
tribunal,  Robert  Treat  Paine  and  Marcus  Morton.  The  former 
was  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  from  1790  to  1804,  when  he 
resigned. 

Judge  Bennett  in  his  interesting  and  exhaustive  address,  de- 
livered before  you  this  morning,  has  so  eloquently  set  forth  the 
great  patriotism  and  judicial  services  of  Judge  Paine  that  it  leaves 
nothing  for  me  to  add. 

Marcus  Morton  was  a  justice  of  the  same  court  from  1825 
to  1840,  when  having  been  elected  governor,  he  resigned  his  office 
as  judge. 

He  held  the  nearest  and  dearest  relation  to  me  and  it  is 
more  fitting  that  others  should  speak  of  him;  but  I  hope  I  may 
say  that  his  services  in  this  great  office  and  in  the  other  public 
trusts  connnitted  to  him,  were  such  as  to  reflect  no  discredit  upon 


THE    BANQUET.  lOI 

the  town  of  his  adoption  and  love.  Coming  to  the  other  courts,  I 
can  speak  with  less  reserve.  I  can  add  nothing  to  the  just  and 
glowing  tribute  paid  by  Judge  Bennett,  in  his  address,  to  the  pat- 
riot, soldier  and  jurist,  David  Cobb,  who  was  a  judge  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  A  few 
years  later  another  eminent  citizen,  Samuel  Fales,  was  for  several 
years  a  judge  and  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 
This  court  was  then  a  county  court,  having  jurisdiction  only  in 
the  County  of  Bristol.  In  182 1  our  judicial  system  was  reorgan- 
ized and  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  Commonwealth  was 
established.  The  governor  was  to  appoint  "  four  meet  persons,  " 
to  be  justices,  who,  in  the  quaint  language  of  the  statute,  "shall  be 
men  of  sobriety  of  manners  and  learned  in  the  law.  " 

Of  the  four  justices  first  appointed,  John  Mason  Williams  of 
Taunton  was  one.  He  served  as  justice  until  1839,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  be  chief  justice  and  continued  to  serve  in  that 
capacity  until  1844,  when  he  resigned.  Judge  Williams  met  the 
requirements  of  the  statute  in  every  respect.  He  was  a  man  of 
abundant  learning  in  the  law,  and  of  the  highest  character,  of  un- 
impeachable integrity  and  purity,  of  great  dignity  of  demeanor 
and  of  unfailing  courtesy  of  manner.  It  may  sound  like  very  high 
praise,  but  I  have  heard  members  of  the  bar,  who  practiced  before 
him,  assert  that  we  never  had,  in  our  courts,  a  man  who  on  the 
whole,  was  more  competent  and  satisfactory  as  a  nisi  prius  judge. 
Permit  me  to  read  a  short  extract  from  an  address  made  to  him 
oti  the  last  day  on  which  he  presided  in  court.  It  was  made  on 
behalf  of  the  bar  by  the  Hon.  Samuel  Dunn  Parker,  who  was  one 
of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  state,  a  man  of  severe  judgment  and 
not  given  to  flattery.  Speaking  of  the  impending  retirement  of 
the  chief  justice,  he  says: — "This  is  an  event  we  cannot  but 
deeply  lament,  as  we  in  common  with  others  in  every  county  of 
the  commonwealth  have  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  admired  the 
undeviating  impartiality,  the  extensive  learning,  the  gentlemanly 
courtesy,  the  sound  and  lucid  exposition  of  the  law,  the  perennial 
dignity,  the  uncommon  ability  and  untiring  industry  with  which 
for  that  length  of  time  you  have  discharged  the  judicial  function 
to  the  satisfaction  and  benefit  of  your  fellow  citizens.  " 

These  are  very  eulogistic  words,  but  not  strained  or  undeserv- 
ed. They  express  the  sentiments  and  feelings  of  the  bar.  Taun- 
ton has  reason  to  be  proud  of  Chief  Justice  Williams,  as  one  of 
her  most  useful  and  eminent  citizens. 

Chief  Justice  Williams  resigned  in  1844.  In  the  following 
year  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Colby  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court.     Although  at    the    time  a  resident  of  New^  Bed- 


I02  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ford,  he  is  most  known  as  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Taunton  where 
for  many  years  he  was  an  able  and  successful  lawyer.  He  remain- 
ed upon  the  bench  but  two  years  and  was  an  able  and  useful 
judge.  From  this  time  for  many  years,  Taunton  had  no  represen- 
tation upon  the  bench. 

In  the  meanwhile,  in  1859,  the  Superior  Court  was  established 
to  take  the  place  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  This  is  a 
court  of  great  dignity  and  importance.  It  is  the  great  trial  court 
of  the  Commonwealth.  Of  all  the  jury  cases  tried  in  the  state,  I 
presume  ninety  per  cent,  are  tried  in  this  court.  There  is  no 
position  in  the  civil  service  of  the  state  in  which  it  is  more  im- 
portant to  have  for  judges  men,  not  only  learned  in  the  law,  but  of 
sound  sense  and  good  judgment,  and  especially  of  the  capacity 
rapidly  to  apply  the  principles  of  law  to  the  ever  varying  circum- 
stances of  the  cases  as  they  arise  before  them.  The  state  is  fortu- 
nate in  having  on  this  court  so  able  and  efficient  a  body  of  judges. 

To  this  high  position  Chester  Isham  Reed  of  Taunton  was 
appointed  in  1867.  Many  of  you  will  remember  him  as  an  ac- 
complished and  genial  gentleman,  and  as  an  able  and  successful 
lawyer.  He  carried  to  the  bench  the  same  genial  and  courteous 
traits  of  character  and  was  respected  and  beloved  as  a  judge. 
Unfortunately  he  remained  upon  the  bench  but  a  few  years,  resign- 
ing in  187 1,  but  long  enough  to  demonstrate  his  capacity  to  make 
one  of  our  most  useful  and  able  judges. 

In  speaking  of  the  judiciary  of  Massachusetts,  I  ought  not  to 
overlook  one  branch  of  the  judicial  department,  which  is  by  no 
means  of  secondary  importance,  I  mean  the  Probate  Courts  of  our 
several  counties.  When  you  reflect  that  as  often  as  once  in  every 
generation  of  men  the  whole  personal  property  of  the  state  passes 
under  the  administration  of  these  courts,  vou  will  appreciate 
their  value  and  the  importance  of  having  learned  and  able  judges, 
of  good  sense  and  judgment  and  knowledge  of  atifairs  to  preside 
over  them.  I  feel  some  delicacy  as  to  what  I  am  about  to  say,  as 
it  touches  one  who  is  present  with  us  to-day.  But  surely  in  at- 
tempting to  speak  of  the  wise  and  able  judges  which  your  town 
has  furnished,  it  would  be  an  act  of  injustice  to  omit  that  ac- 
complished citizen  of  Taunton,  who  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  cen^ 
tury  was  the  Judge  of  Probate  of  the  County  of  Bristol.  Massa- 
chusetts never  had  a  better  Judge  of  Probate  than  Judge  F.dmund 
H,  Bennett. 

I  will  detain  you  no  longer.  I  have  accomplished  my  pur- 
pose if  I  have  shown  that  our  good  old  town  has  a  right  to  feel  a 
just  satisfaction  and  pride  in  the  able  judges  which  she  has  fur- 
nished to  the  service  of  our  Commonwealth. 


■.i-':Vi   ..I.    -  jSPITAL, 
Formerly  the  Residence  of  Gov.  Marcus  Morton. 


CITY  HALL. 


THE    nANQUET.  IO3 

The  Pil;;rims  : — Two  hundred  and  si.\ty-ei[;ht  years  aj;o, 
|)erhai)s  this  \ery  month,  Cohannet  first  felt  the  ste])  of  the 
white  man.  It  was  then  that  Edward  Winslow  and  Stephen 
Hopkins  took  their  long  and  perilous  tramp  from  Plymouth, 
through  these  wilds,  possibly  across  this  very  field,  to  the 
shore  of  Narragansett  Hay,  to  meet  King  Massasoit.  My 
history  fails  me  here.  They  may  have  been  reporters  going 
to  interview  the  King  on  the  tariff  question,  but  in  the  light 
of  modern  history,  it  seems  to  me  more  likely  ^hat  they 
were  seeking  for  office  imder  the  new  administration.  Jiut 
there  is  a  learned  gentleman  jjresent  who  can  tell  us  more 
about  the  Pilgrims  than  the  rest  of  us  have  ever  dreamed  of 
and  I  take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  M. 
Dexter,  who  will  speak   for  them. 

RESPONSE    UV    KE\".     I)K.     IlEXKV     M.     DEXTER. 

I  assume,  sir,  that  in  the  few  moments  allotted  me  there  is  no 
desire  that  I  thresh  again  the  old  straw  of  a  general  historic  ques- 
tion. IJy  this  time  the  world,  so  far  as  it  has  appetence  for 
such  matters,  has  learned: — In  the  first  place,  that  the  rinitans 
were  serious-minded  Englishmen  of  the  i6th  and  17th  centuries, 
who  felt  that  the  great  business  of  life  is  to  serve  God,  while  such 
genuine  service  demanded  that  those  ancient  forms  which  the 
Church  of  England  had  inherited  from  Rome  be  pruned  of  excres- 
cences, purged  of  idolatries,  and  vitalized  by  fresh  genuineness  and 
zeal.  In  the  second  place,  that  the  separatists  were  Puritans  who 
saw  no  other  way  of  sincere  living  but  to  leave  their  old  church, 
even  if  they  had  to  leave  their  old  homes,  that  they  might  obey 
the  word  of  God.  And  in  the  third  place,  that  the  Pi/grims  were 
Puritan  separatists,  who,  not  content  with  a  tolerated  and  toler- 
able, yet  restricted  and  unfruitful  existence  among  the  somewhat 
meager,  if  kindly,  hospitalities  of  Holland,  yearned  to  live  again 
under  their  old  Hag;  to  render  service,  on  some  remote  shore, 
even  to  that  conceited  bigot  who  occupied  the  English  throne, 
whose  sense  of  justice  and  whose  utmost  stretch  of  royal  benignity 
exhausted  themselves  in  the  surly  suggestion  that  possibly  he 
might  turn  his  majestic  head  the  other  way  and  not  see  them  if 
they  fled  across  the  sea ;  and  to  do  something,  if  God  would  help 
them, — even  humbly  and  but  as  stepping  stones  unto  others — for 


I04  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

the  performing  of  so  great  a  work,  in  advancing  the  kingdom 
of  Christ  among  the  savages  of  this  wilderness.  Such  Puritan 
separatists  as  these,  were  the  Pilgrim    Fathers  of  this  Old  Colony. 

It  is  usual  to  take  a  text  for  a  sermon.  I  reverse  the  pro- 
cess, and  take  a  sermon  for  my  text. 

I  hold  in  my  hand  an  original  copy  of  the  first  discourse  ever 
preached  in  Taunton  which  attained  to  the  dignity  of  type;  deliv- 
ered here  so  early  as  on  Thursday,  23  July,  (2  Aug.,)  1640.  This, 
you  will  observe,  was  a  few  days  more  than  nineteen  years  after  the 
first  white  feet — of  Edward  Winslow  and  Stephen  Hopkins — passed 
this  way  on  their  rough  pilgrimage  to  the  wigwam  of  Massasoit  at 
Sowams,  and  but  nine  days  more  than  a  year  and  a  month  later 
than  that  formal  settlement  of  Cohannet  which  we  now  com- 
memorate. 

It  is  entitled,  New  England's  Teares  for  old  England's  Feares, 
by  William  Hook,  sometime  of  Axmouth  in  Devon,  now  of  Taun- 
ton in  New  England ;  and  was  delivered — it  may  have  been  under  a 
spreading  oak — it  being  "a  day  of  Public  Humiliation,  appointed 
by  the  churches  in  behalf  of  our  native  country  in  time  of  feared 
dangers.  "  You  will  recall  the  circumstances  which  led  the  way. 
Charles  I.,  obstinately  bent  both  on  doing  foolish  things,  and  on 
doing  all  things  in  a  foolish  way,  had  reduced  himself  to  penury 
by  one  brief  campaign  against  the  rebellious  Scots.  After  the 
longest  interval  known  to  English  history — an  interval  crowded 
with  every  conceivable  form  of  illegal  exaction — Parliament  had 
met  again  at  Westminster,  simply  because  money  must  be  had, 
and  could  be  had  only  by  an  act  of  the  Commons.  But  ve'xed  be- 
cause they  talked  of  grievances  instead  of  voting  subsidies,  the 
hasty  and  petulant  monarch  suddenly  dissolved  the  session  and 
sent  the  members  home  to  breed  discontent  in  all  the  land.  The 
last  ships  which  had  come  over  had  brought  tidings  of  this — of 
the  popular  commotion  ;  of  the  fact  that  the  king  was  raising  an- 
other army  to  march  into  the  north,  having  squeezed  the  money 
therefor — which  London  flatly  refused  to  lend  him — by  a  forced  loan 
from  the  nobility  and  gentry;  and  that  the  whole  air  of  England 
was  thick  with  premonitions  of  civil  war.  Archbishop  Laud  was 
still  on  his  high  horse,  and  the  star  chamber  was  recklessly  fining 
whom  it  pleased  thousands  of  pounds,  setting  them  in  the  pillory, 
cutting  off  their  ears  and  slitting  their  noses — for  daring  to  act  as 
if  their  souls  were  their  own. 

These  were  the  tidings — thirty  or  forty  days  old.  What  might 
already  have  followed  nobody  dared  to  imagine;  and  such  was  the 
situation.  , 


THE    BANQUET.  IO5 

There  were  then  four  and  twenty  churches  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Massachusetts  and  the  Plymouth  colonies;  eighteen  in  the 
former,  and  six  in  the  latter.  These  churches  appointed  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer. 

But  it  should  be  understood  and  remembered  that  in  these 
colonies  there  was,  and  for  sometime  had  been,  remarkable  pros- 
perity. The  Pequot  war  had  been  well  ended,  to  great  content. 
The  "proud  opinions"  that  a  short  time  before  had  risen  up  to 
disturb  everybody  with  the  familistic  troubles  had  subsided.  The 
churches  had  peace.  For  plenteous  harvests  the  land  had  never 
known  the  like,  so  that,  so  far  as  all  new  English  affairs  went  a 
great  Thanksgiving  would  have  been  in  order,  without  waiting  for 
the  last  Thursday  of  November. 

But  our  Fathers  appointed  a  Fast,  and  I  tell  you  that  a  Fast 
meant  something  then.  Base  ball  games,  shooting  matches,  fishing 
excursions,  hunting  up  summer  board  and  the  like  amusements 
were  as  yet  undeveloped  as  accepted  methods  of  hallowing  the 
occasion.  To  appoint  a  Fast  then  meant  to  the  entire  community 
the  giving  up  of  a  whole  secular  day  to  public  religious  service. 
Gov.  Winthrop  tells  us  [Journal  11.13]  that  the  ship  Mary  Rose,  of 
Bristol,  Eng.,  recently  come  in  from  sea  and  lying  in  the  stream, 
on  27  July,  (6  Aug.,)  1640 — and  that  was  the  Monday  after  the 
Thursday  of  this  very  Fast — blew  up  by  the  never  accounted  for 
explosion  of  twenty-four  barrels  of  powder  in  her  hold,  killing  the 
captain  and  nine  or  ten  of  his  men,  with  four  or  five  strangers, 
one  man  alone  escaping  with  life.  Winthrop  intimates  that  "the 
judgment  of  God  appeared  in  this,  because,  alone  of  all  the  ships 
in  the  harbor,  this  captain  had  neglected  with  his  crew  to  attend 
the  public  Fast  service,  saying  when  remonstrated  with,  that  "  he 
had  as  good  a  service  aboard  as  they  had  ashore." 

Now,  one  can  see  a  little  what  kind  of  men  these  hrst  settlers 
of  Taunton  were,  in  this,  that  while  their  infant  settlement  was 
yet  in  the  gristle,  and  every  secular  hour  had  its  own  pre-eminent 
vaule,  they  left  their  houses  half-finished,  their  fences  half-builded, 
their  fields  half-hoed,  to  devote  one-sixth  of  a  whole  week  of  long 
July  days,  when  they  were  in  prosperity,  to  humble  themselves 
and  beg  the  Divine  interposition  to  save  from  the  horrors  of  civil 
war  that  native  land  out  of  which  most  of  them  had  fied  for  their 
faith  and  for  their  lives. 

I  get — let  me  say — from  this  discourse,  a  more  exalted  idea 
than  some  other  facts  suggest,  of  the  quality  and  average  mental 
condition  of  these  Pilgrim  fathers  of  Cohannet.  It  was  sent  over 
in  manuscript  to  a  member  of  the  Honorable  House  of  Commons, 
who  thought  so  well  pf  it  that  he    ha.d    it  printed  "for  the  publike 


I06  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

good."  He  says  of  it  in  his  few  prefatory  words. — "  If  thou  bring 
thy  heart  with  thee  to  the  reading  of  it,  thou  mayst  find  thy  heart 
melting  by  reading  of  it,  and  then  thou  shah  have  cause  to  bless 
God  for  it. "  You  have  had  here  and  have  within  my  knowledge, 
well  cultured  and  very  able  men  in  your  pulpits,  but  1  confess  to  a 
doubt  whether  you  ever  had  one.  who.  on  the  whole,  could  write  a 
better  sermon  than  .this.  In  spirit,  devout,  tender,  pitying  and 
true;  shot  through  and  through  with  the  golden  threads  of  scrip- 
ture thoughts  and  speech ;  in  language  admirable,  rising  now  and 
then  into  pathetic  eloquence,  and  everywhere  assuming  not  only 
new  power  of  thought,  but  a  considerable  level  of  comprehension 
in  the  audience.  I  have  always  insisted  that  our  Pilgrim  Fathers 
were  not  great  men  by  original  position  and  culture  so  much  as  by 
character  and  achievement;  that  it  is  a  mistake  to  try  to  lift  them 
to  a  level  in  social  position  and  training  with  the  Massachusetts 
Company,  But  when  I  see  William  Hook,  a  Master  of  Arts  of 
Trinity  College,  Oxford, — soon  to  be  associated  with  the  famous 
John  Davenport  in  the  care  of  the  famous  first  Church  of  New 
Haven,  a  correspondent  of  Oliver  Cromwell  while  here,  and  who 
went  back  to  the  old  country  in  the  days  of  the  Commonwealth  to 
be  his  domestic  chaplain,  and  to  lay  his  own  bones  in  Kunhill 
Fields;  when  I  see  this  William  Hook  in  his  narrow  cabin  near 
Taunton  Green  writing  a  discourse  for  his  little  congregation  of 
Cohaimet  settlers,  garnished  with  one  quotation  in  the  original 
Latin  from  the  third  Eclogue  of  Virgil,  and  two  from  the  Phar- 
salia  of  Lucan,  with  another  from  an  author  whom  I  am  not  scholar 
enough  to  identify,  together  with  a  reference  in  the  original  (Jreek 
to  the  Nicomachean  Ethics  of  Aristotle,  I  am  sure  that  he  enter- 
tained no  fear  that  his  beaten  oil  wouldn't  burn  in  the  lamp  of  his 
humble  sanctuarv. 

Verv  beautiful  to  me  is  the  revelation  which  this  sermon 
makes  of  the  simple,  reverent,  confiding  tone  of  the  mind  of  our 
Pilgrim  Fathers  toward  the  Bible.  In  unfolding  and  pressing  the 
doctrine  gathered  from  the  text,  with  the  lessons  which  it  carries, 
appeal  is  constantly  made  to  the  Divine  Word  in  an  artless  man- 
ner, not  as  the  end  of  all  strife,  for  there  is  no  strife,  but  as  the 
clear  and  conclusive 'statement  of  truths  needing  only  statement 
for  belief.  I  have  counted  six  and  forty  direct  Scripture  references 
in  these  three  and  twenty  pages,  besides  many  more  which  are 
veiled  and  indirect.  I  wish  modern  "improvements''  had  not  led 
pulpits  and  pews  so  far  away  from  all  this! 

And.  finally.  Sir,  what  touches  me  most  here,  as  it  touches 
me  everywhere  as  I  reverently  study,  as  closely  as  I  can,  the  inner- 
most character  of  the  men  of  whom  we  are  thinking  to-day,  is  the 


THE     BANQUET.  lO/ 

sublime  and  regnant  absoluteness  of  their  confidence  in  God.  It 
exhales  like  "the  perfumes  of  Arabia"  from  every  page  of  this 
sermon.  These  men  beliexed  that  (jod  could  save  their  dear  old 
England,  which,  with  all  her  faults,  they  loved  still  ;  and  that  they 
might  perhaps  help  move  Him  to  do  so. 

Dr.  Young  says:  "by  night  an  Atheist  half  believes  a  God.*' 
But  there  was'nt  agnosticism  enough  among  all  the  one  hundred 
and  two  passengers  of  the  Mayflower — that  wretched  black  sheep 
of  a  Billington,  and  all  his,  included — to  get  up  one  single  respect- 
able doubt  on  board  day  time  or  night.  When  the  terrific  weather 
took  them  in  mid-ocean,  stove  in  their  upper  works,  and  cracked 
and  displaced  one  of  the  main  beams ;  the  sailors  were  scared,  and 
the  master  had  his  doubts,  and  there  was  a  serious  time  of  con- 
sultation. But  one  of  the  Leyden  men  brought  out  from  the  pile 
of  his  belongings  a  great  "iron  screw"  and  they  tightened  up 
things,  and  repaired  damages,  and  "committed  themselves  to  the 
will  of  God,  "  and  kept  on.  That  is  what  they  always  did.  And 
when,  in  those  early  dreadful  months,  the  Governor  died,  and  half 
their  company  died,  they  just  buried  them  in  the  best  manner  they 
could,  trusted  in  God  and  kept  on.  And  when  5,  (15)  April  1621, 
the  MayHower  started  on  her  return  voyage,  not  one  of  them 
wanted  to  go  back  in  her!  And  when  in  1623,  from  3d  May  to 
15th  July,  they  had  fierce  heat,  and  not,  a  drop  of  rain,  so  that 
their  grass  patches  were  parched  like  withered  hay,  and  the  spring- 
ing corn,  which  stood  between  them  and  starvation,  drooped  and 
shriveled,  they  appointed  a  Fast  and  humbled  themselves  before 
the  (jod  in  whom  they  lived  and  moved  and  had  their  being,  and 
lifted  their  hearts  in  the  submission  of  hope.  And,  though  it  was 
clear  weather,  and  very  hot,  and  not  a  cloud  anywhere  to  be  seen 
in  the  sky.  Gov.  Bradford  says:  "toward  evening  it  began  to  be 
overcast,  and  shortly  after  to  raine  with  such  sweet  and  gentle 
showers  as  gave  them  great  cause  of  rejoicing  and  blessing  God. 
It  came  without  either  \vind  or  thunder  or  any  violence,  and  by 
degrees  in  that  abundance  as  that  the  earthe  was  thorowly  wete 
and  soked  therewith.  Which  did  so  apparently  revive  and  quick- 
en the  decayed  corn  and  other  fruits  as  was  wonderful  to  see,  and 
made  the  Indians  astonished  to  behold:  and  afterwards  the  Lord 
sent  them  such  seasonable  showers,  with  interchange  of  fair. 
warme  wether,  as,  through  His  blessing  caused  a  fruitful  and  lib- 
eral harvest  to  their  no  small  comfort,  and  rejoicing.  For  which 
mercy  (in  time  convenient)  they  also  set  apart  a  day  of  thanksgiv- 
ing. "     [Bradford,  142.] 

Such  men.  Sir,  were  great  with  the  truest,  with  an  eternal 
greatness.     God  give  us,  their  children,  like  largeness  and  purity 


I08  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

of  soul.  Then — with  the  sweet  singer  of  Olney,  in  these  lines 
suggested  by  the  sight  of  his  mother's  picture,  we  may  each  one 
say  : 

My  boast  is  not,  that  I  deduce  my  Ijirth 
From  loins  enthroned,  and  rulers  ol  the  earth; 
But  higher  far  my  proud  pretensions  rise — 
The  son  of  parents  pass'd  into  the  skies. 

■  The  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  : — In  the  settle- 
ment of  Taunton,  the  Pilgrim  and  the  Puritan  joined  hands ; 
for  while  the  territory  belonged  to  Plymouth  Colony,  a  very 
respectable  portion  of  the  first  settlers  came  from  Boston  and 
its  vicinity.  And  so  we  may,  if  we  will,  claim  kinship  with 
those  good  men  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  who,  it  is  said,  some- 
times hastened  the  e.xit  of  witches  and  Quakers  from  this 
trying  world  ;  and  with  true  filial  devotion  we  may  explore 
the  archives  of  the  Puritan  colony  for  records  of  its  found- 
ers. Nowhere  can  this  search  be  more  effectively  made 
than  in  the  collections  of  that  ancient  and  honorable  institu- 
tion, the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  whose  president, 
the  eminent  scholar  and  historian,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  E. 
P^llis,  I  am  glad  to  introduce  to  you. 

RESPON.SE    BY    REV.     DR.    GEORCiE    E.     ELLLS. 

It  is  a  privilege  and  an  honor  to  be  called  upon  on  this  oc- 
casion to  respond  to  the  recognition  of  the  Massachusetts  His- 
torical Society.  I  heartily  wish  that  its  venerated  emeritus  Presi- 
dent— whose  name  and  lineage  with  all  their  great  services,  with 
his  own,  carry  with  them  so  much  of  the  best  of  our  history — was 
here  to  relieve  me  of  this  office.  That  society  is  the  first  and  the 
oldest  of  its  fellowships,  now  very  numerous,  in  this  country.  It 
lacks  but  little  more  than  a  year  for  its  full  century,  srnce  it  was 
initiated  four  years  before  its  incorporation  in  1794.  Its  first  five 
associates  invited  five  more,  and  so  it  began  with  a  membership 
of  ten.  Originally  self-limited  to  thirty  members  resident  in  the 
state,  its  charter  restricted  it  to  sixty  members.  In  1857  an 
amendment  in  the  charter  extended  its  roll  to  one  hundred  mem- 
bers. There  it  remains.  Numerous  kindred  societies  in  the  state 
engage  the  zeal  and  industry  of  large  numbers  interested  in  local 
or  general  history.     During  the    tgrm  of  its  exiijtenGe  \h.c  society 


thk  banquet.  109 

has  had  on  its  resident  roll  356  members,  more  than  two-thirds  of 
whom  I  have  known  personally.  Brilliant  and  honored  names  are 
on  that  calendar,  the  foremost  in  our  history,  poetry,  literature, 
patriotism,  statesmanship,  diplomacy,  oratory,  the  judiciary  of  bar 
and  bench,  merchant  princes  and  men  of  all  nobleness  in  public 
and  private  life. 

As  for  nearly  half  a  century  I  have  sat  in  their  company,  and 
so  many  of  them  have  vanished  from  sight,  the  thought  has  often 
been  in  my  mind,  of  the  opportuneness  of  the  time,  and  of  the 
special  fitness  of  the  prime  movers,  when  and  by  whom  the  society 
was  instituted.  The  Congregational  ministers  of  all  New  Eng- 
land have  from  its  settlement  to  this  day,  been  most  concerned 
and  most  laborious  in  tracing,  recording  and  gathering  the  mate- 
rials of  its  history.  Three  such  ministers  originated  the  Massa- 
chusetts Society.  As  they  drew  in  associates,  lay  and  clerical, 
they  called  themselves  "The  Historical  Society,"  and  in  their 
first  appeal  announced  their  purpose  to  aim  for  "a  complete  his- 
tory of  the  country. "  The  charter  attached  the  title  Massachu- 
setts. The  society  has  always  made  this  state,  its  history,  its  towns 
and  its  institutions  and  its  people,  the  main  subjects  of  its  inter- 
ests, but  has  never  forgotten  the  whole  country.  The  first  pur- 
chased property  of  the  society  consisted  of  twelve  wooden  chairs 
with  "elbows,"  called  "Windsor  chairs,"  a  pine  wood  table,  paint- 
ed, with  drawer  and  lock,  and  an  inkstand.  They  are  faithfully 
preserved. 

Then  as  to  the  opportuneness  of  the  time  when  the  society 
was  formed.  The  three  Boston  ministers,  Belknap,  Eliot  and 
Thacher.  who  initiated  it,  were  men  in  the  vigor  of  life,  of  Har- 
vard training,  who  had  all  passed  through  the  scenes  of  the  Rev- 
olution, with  family  pride  and  history.  They  had  been  inquirers  in 
the  beginnings  of  things  here,  and  had  each  collected  his  own  store 
of  the  prime  materials  of  history.  These  they  contributed"  for  shelf 
and  cabinet,  not  as  decoys,  but  as  magnets,  as  nest-eggs,  for  gath- 
ering a  brood.  They  prompted  the  searching  into  old  secretaries 
and  garrets,  just  at  the  fitting  time  to  rescue  what  might  soon 
have  perished,  beginning  with  the  very  earliest  records  made  in 
this  wilderness.  Most  of  those  records  are  of  a  creditable  and 
honorable  tenor.  But  an  awful  loyalty  to  truth  has  forbidden  the 
wilful  destruction  of  any  thing,  whatever  the  moral  or  the  warning 
of  the  record.  Over  some  portion  of  these  ancient  papers  might 
well  be  inscribed  two  of  the  lines  on  the  monument  of  old  Hearne, 
the  pioneer  and  father  of  English  Antiquaries, 

"Devil  take  you,  says  Time  to  Tiiomas   Hearne! 
Whatever  I  forget  you  learn.'' 


I  TO  QUARTER    MTLLENNIAT.    CELEBRATION. 

The  infant  society  sent  as  its  first  publication  over  all  the 
continent  and  its  islands,  "A  Circular  Letter,"  not  begging  money 
but  urging  the  collecting  and  preserving  of  the  materials  of  his- 
tory. The  society  has  published  seventy-eight  octavo  volumes, 
mostly  of  original  and  valuable  papers — such  as  Hubbard's  and 
liradford's  Histories,  Judge  Sewall's  Diary  and  Letters,  Corres- 
pondence, Journals,  Annals,  Statistics,  Memoirs,  etc.,  of  perma- 
nent interest.  Our  Massachusetts  History  has  been  more  fully, 
minutely,  and  on  the  whole  impartially  related  than  that  of  any 
other  community  on  the  earth.  Those  who  wish  to  depreciate  or 
censure  the  state  or  its  people  have  need  to  draw  their  materials 
from  these  candid  records.  Those  who  seek  to  misrepresent  and 
slander  relv  in  addition  upon  their  own  ignorance  or  imagination. 
There  is,  however,  one  New  England  history,  written  also  by  a 
minister,  though  a  Church  of  England  missionary,  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Peters  of  Connecticut,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  such  fables 
as  that  of  the  invading  army  of  frogs,  whose  uproar  at  Windham 
was  like  the  bellowing  of  bulls,  heard  at  the  distance  of  miles,  and 
spreading  dismay  and  panic  over  the  country.  To  the  same 
amusing  satirist  we  owe  the  perennial  legend  of  the  "Blue  Laws.  " 

It  may  now  be  afifirmed  that  no  fit  student  can  revise,  recast, 
or  complete  the  history  of  any  town  or  incident  in  Massachusetts, 
dated  in  the  past,  without  consulting  the  shelves  and  the  cabinet 
of  the  Historical  Society.  The  rich  and  faithful  utterances  to 
which  you  have  to-day  been  listening  from  your  well-furnished 
orator  illustrates  that  statement. 

We  do  not  forget  to-day  the  old  town  in  the  mother  coun- 
try, whose  name  we  bear  "for  the  honor  and  love,"  which 
we  as  well  as  our  fathers  "bear  toward  our  dear  and  native 
land."  •  In  response  to  the  invitations  sent  the  Mayor  and 
Corporation  of  Taunton,  England,  to  be  present  with  us  on 
this  occasion,  the  following  has  been  received: — 

Taunton,  P>n(;land,  May  i6,   1889. 
Df.ar  Mr.   Mayor: — 

I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  and  in- 
vitations to  the  celebration  of  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  found- 
ing of  your  town. 

I  brought  the  subject  before  our  corporation  at  their  monthly 
meeting,  and  also  had  invitations  sent  to  each  member,  but  I  am 
afraid  tlie  long  journey  will  prevent  us  from  accepting  your  kind 
hospitality.      Hut  on  behalf  of  myself,    the    other  members  of  the 


rilK    I5ANOUET.  Ill 

corporation  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  old  town.  I  beg  to  thank 
you  and  your  committee  for  your  kind  feelings  toward  us,  and  to 
assure  you  that  although  we  shall  not  be  present  at  your  celebra- 
tion our  hearts  will  be  with  you,  and  we  trust  you  will  have  a 
pleasant  and  enjoyable  time. 

Our  corporation  has  decided  to  send  you  an  address  of  con- 
gratulation which  is  being  prepared,  and  I  hope  will  reach  you  in 
good  time. 

1  have  sent  you  a  local  paper  from  which  you  will  see  the  ac- 
count of  our  Council  meeting.  Vou  will  also  observe  that  last 
week  we  had  the  honor  of  a  visit  from  H.  R.  H.,  the  Duke  of 
Cambridge. 

With  kind  regards  and  best  wishes,  I  remain,  dear  Mr.  Mayor, 

Yours  faithfully, 

Henrv  I.  Spili.er, 
Mayor  of  Taunton,  England. 
'l"o  His  Worship,  the  Mayor  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 

The  l^Mrst  Settlers  of  Taunton  : — Perhaps  the  most 
|)roniinent  of  the  first  settlers  of  Tatinton  was  Richard  Wil- 
liams, whom  the  historian  calls  the  father  of  the  town.  How 
near  this  statement  came  to  being  the  literal  truth,  we  may 
infer  from  the  fact  that  there  are  ninety-three  W'illiamses  in 
our  last  city  directory.  And  this  number  by  no  means  indi- 
cates the  whole  family  ;  for  a  great  many  of  them  have  got 
away,  and  are  scattered  all  over  the  earth.  One  of  these 
wandering  sons,  who  has  come  back  to  us  to-day,  has  carried 
to  so  fair  a  fruitage  the  good  seed  sown  by  his  ancestor,  that 
it  has  been  publicly  said  of  him  that  he  is  the  only  man  in 
Maine  who  could  be  elected  governor  who  would  not  accept 
the  ofifice.  And  that  high  office  is  so  highly  cf)veted,  we 
know,  in  the  Pine  Tree  state,  that  they  sometimes  have  two 
governors  at  a  time.  Our  friend,  in  his  leisure  moments,  is 
something  of  an  antiquarian  and,  1  am  told,  has  collected 
i,ooo  names  of  the  descendants  of  Richard  Williams,  and  1 
believe  he  offe^^s  a  reward  for  any  new  descendant  that  ma)- 
be  brought  to  him,    dead    or    alive.     I    give  you  "  The  Plrst 


112         QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Settlers  of  Taunton,  "  and  present  to  you  a  descendant,  in 
the  seventh  generation,  of  Richard  Williams,  the  Hon. 
Josiah  H.  Urummond  of  Portland. 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.    JOSIAH    H.    DRUMMOND. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  afid  Gentlemen  : 

Or,  if  you  will  allow  me  to  salute  you  by  a  title  more  pleasing 
to  me,  I  will  say  Cousins  of  Ancient  Taunton  : 

If  I  had  ever  lacked  interest  in  my  descent  from  the  founders 
of  your  town,  one  glance  up  and  down  these  tables  would  have 
revived  it:  and  to-day  I  count  myself  fortunate  in  being  a  descend- 
ant from  Richard  Williams  and  that  I  have  learned  the  fact  before 
1  had  become  any  older. 

Yes,  many  of  the  descendants  of  your  "  First  Settlers  "  have 
wandered  away ;  my  friend  King  and  myself,  speaking  for  those 
who  live  in  Maine,  represent  many  more  than  are  now  found  in 
your  limits,  even  if  you  take  your  beautiful  city  and  all  the  towns 
which  went  to  make  up  Taunton  of  "  ye  ancient  time. " 

In  Maine,  the  descendants  of  the  "  First  Settlers  of  Taunton  " 
are  found  all  over  the  State,  from  Kittery  Point  to  Quoddy  Head, 
from  the  Highlands  to  the  ocean.  On  the  shores  of  Casco  Bay, 
in  the  valley  of  the  Androscoggin,  the  roar  of  whose  falls  is  lost  in 
the  hum  of  manufactories ;  in  the  valley  of  the  glorious  old  Ken- 
nebec, the  music  of  whose  waters  was  the  lullaby  of  my  infancy 
and  the  delight  of  my  boyhood ;  in  the  valley  of  the  majestic 
Penobscot  and  even  in  the  valley  of  the  far  St.  Croix,  are  equally 
found  the  descendants  of  the  noble  men  and  women,  who  re- 
deemed from  the  wilderness  the  spot  where  I  now  stand.  To 
illustrate; — among  the  first  settlers  of  one  town  in  Maine  were 
seven  families  from  Taunton  ;  how  well  they  obeyed  the  injunction 
to  "increase  and  multiply"  you  may  know  from  the  fact  that  in 
each  one  of  five  of  these  families,  there  were  nine  children ;  the 
other  two,  as  the  saying  is,  "broke  the  record,  "  by  having  eleven 
children  in  each.  In  the  neighborhood,  too,  in  which  I  was  born, 
there  were,  in  my  boyhood,  fourteen  families  dwelling  consecu- 
tively within  a  space  of  two  miles  upon  the  same  road,  twelve  of 
which,  upon  the  one  side  or  the  other,  were  descendants  of  Rich- 
ard Williams.  In  fact,  I  believe  that  you  could  not  call  the  roll  of 
a  single  hamlet  in  Maine  without  some  descendant  of  Ancient 
Taunton  answering  the  call. 

On  behalf  of  these  almost  countless  far-away  cousins,  I  greet 
you,  and  most  heartily  congratulate  you  upon  this  auspicious  day. 


THE    BANQUET.  I  I  3 

But  my  friend,  the  toastmaster,  has  called  upon  me  to  respond 
for  the  "First  Settlers  of  Taunton"  instead  of  for  their  descend- 
ants, of  whom,  I  infer,  that  he  and  the  other  young  men  propose 
to  take  care,  without  help  from  me.  Indeed,  he  has  warned  you 
that  I  am  "offering  a  reward  for  a  descendant  of  Richard  Wil- 
liams, dead  or  alive ;  "  he  has  slightly  exaggerated  ;  my  work  ends 
with  the  fifth  generation,  and  those  now  living  are  in  no  danger. 

Recent  investigations,  set  on  foot,  I  think,  by  the  influence  of 
your  Old  Colony  Historical  Society  and  its  indefatigable  officers, 
have  somewhat  changed  the  formerly  prevailing  opinion  in  rela- 
tion to  the  ancestry  and  place  of  birth  of  Richard  Williams.  The 
discovery  of  wills  made  by  his  immediate  relatives,  and  the  infor- 
mation gained  by  Ex-Gov.  Joseph  H.  Williams  of  my  state,  first 
made  public  to-day  through  his  letter  to  you,  render  it  quite  cer- 
tain in  my  mind,  that  Richard  Williams  was  not  born  in  Wales,  or 
if  he  was,  that  he  left  there  in  very  early  childhood. 

Referring  to  the  letter  of  Gov.  Williams  (the  information  in 
which  he  has  kindly  communicated  to  me,)  we  find  that  "Richard 
Williams  of  the  parish  of  St.  Johns  in  Gloucester  and  Frances 
Dighton  of  the  parish  of  St.  Nicholas  in  Gloucester  were  married 
in  the  parish    of  Whitcomb    Magna,    February  ii,  1632  (O.  S. ") 

In  passing,  we  note  that  Gov.  Williams  has  discovered  the 
parentage  and  family  of  the  fair  bride,  whose  memory  has  been 
worthily  honored  by  giving  her  name  to  one  of  the  towns  that 
made  part  of  "Ancient  Taunton,"  and  of  her  sister  Katherine, 
the  wife  of  Gov.  Dudley — a  problem  that  has  heretofore  bafifled 
all  the  efforts  of  genealogists  and  antiquarians.  They  were  the 
daughters  of  John  Dighton,  an  eminent  surgeon,  and  his  wife, 
Jane,  daughter  of  Edward  Bassett  of  Uley.  The  Bassetts  were 
descendants  of  the  Berkeleys  of  Gloucestershire,  so  that  in  the  old 
limits  of  Taunton  we  have  two  towns  bearing  the  name  of  the 
wife  of  Richard  Williams  and  of  the  famous  family  from  which  she 
was  descended.  We  have  not  yet  the  precise  date  of  her  birth, 
but  she  was  baptized  in  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  Gloucester, 
March  i,  161 1  (O.  S.)  She  survived  her  husband  and  all  but  two 
of  her  nine  children,  dying  early  in  1706,  at  the  great  age  of  ninety- 
five  years.  She  was  universally  honored  and  beloved  during  her 
long  life,  and  as  a  testimonial  of  the  regard  in  which  she  was  held, 
six  years  after  her  death,  and  in  the  centennial  anniversary  year 
of  her  birth,  a  part  of  the  town  of  her  adoption  and  in  which  she 
had  dwelt  more  than  the  three  score  and  ten  years  usually  allotted 
as  the  limit  of  human  life,  was  created  a  new  town  and  named 
"Dighton"  in  her  honor.  I  speak  of  her  "in  passing:"  but 
when   we  consider  the  influences  that  must  have  gone  out  from 


114  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

the  life  of  so  good  a  woman,  who  is  entitled  to  more  honorable 
mention,  when  "the  First  Settlers  of  Taunton  "'  are  eulogized, 
than  Frances  Dighton  Williams  ? 

Richard  and  Frances  had  two  children  born  to  them  while 
living  in  the  City  of  Gloucester;  John,  bap.  March  27,  1634; 
Elizabeth,  bap.  Feb'y  27,  1635  (O.   S.)  ;  both  of  whom  died  young. 

These  dates,  with  others  already  known,  establish  with  great 
certainty  that  Richard  Williams  came  to  this  country  in  1636. 
His  daughter  was  baptized  in  February  of  that  year  in  Gloucester 
and  he  purchased  land  in  Dorchester  in  1637  and  the  same  year 
became  one  of  the  original  purchasers  of  Taunton.  Question  has 
been  raised  whether  the  Richard  Williams,  who  bought  land  in 
Dorchester,  was  Richard  Williams,  later  of  Taunton  ;  but  there  is 
no  room  for  doubt,  because  Richard  Williams  of  Taunton  on 
October  20,  1646,  sold  one  of  the  lots  in  Dorchester,  and  another 
lot  "which  fell  to  Richard  Williams"  in  Dorchester,  descended  to, 
and  was  sold  by,  the  great  grandson  of  Richard  Williams  of  Taun- 
ton. 

Richard  Williams  and  family  must  have  been  in  Taunton  in 
1637,  as  he  was  one  of  the  first  purchasers  at  that  date.  The  settle- 
ment of  the  place  must  have  been  made  long  enough  before  the 
incorporation  of  the  town,  to  give  assurance  that  it  was  to  be  per- 
manent. John  Richmond  and  John  Hathway  say  in  depositions 
(which  I  have  not  seen  in  print)  that  they  came  to  Taunton  in 
1639,  ^"^1  t^^t  t'"*^^  John  Gilbert,  one  of  the  original  purchasers, 
"  had  a  house  down  on  the  meadow,  on  the  westerly  side  of  Great 
River. "  It  would  seem  that  the  settlement  must  have  com- 
menced immediately  after  the  purchase,  and  the  prominence  of 
Richard  Williams  indicates  that  he  was  one  of  the  first  of  the 
"  First  Settlers.  "  I  have  not  examined  the  grounds  upon  which 
the  tradition,  that  he  came  to  Taunton  from  Scituate,  rests,  but 
from  the  facts  established  by  records,  I  am  inclined  to  doubt  its 
truth.  But  wherever  he  passed  the  time  between  his  arrival  in 
this  country  and  1639,  it  is  certain  that  from  that  date  till  his 
death  in  1692,  more  than  half  a  century,  he  lived  in  Taunton  an 
honorable  and  useful  life,  being  almost  continually  entrusted  with 
the  management  of  public  affairs,  both  religious  and  civil,  and  in 
all  relations,  commanding  the  respect,  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  community.  He  represented  Taunton  in  the  Colonial  Court 
twelve  years  from  1645  to  1665,  and  was  also  one  of  the  board  of 
selectmen  twelve  years. 

But  whence  did  he  originate  ?  1  have  already  stated  that  in 
my  opinion  he  was  not  born  in  Wales,  or,  if  he  was,  that  he  came 
to  Gloucester  when  quite  young. 


TITE    BANQUET.  II5 

The  discovery,  iDy  Mr.  Waters,  of  two  wills,  an  abstract  of 
which  is  given  in  the  thirty-seventh  volume  of  the  Genealogical 
Register,  gives  us  iniporiant  and  quite  decisive  information.  One 
of  the  wills  was  made  in  1650  by  an  unmarried  sister  of  Richard 
Williams,  and  the  other  in  1695,  by  his  nephew,  the  son  of  a  de- 
ceased brother. 

The  sister,  Jane  Williams,  mentions  in  her  will,  her  brother, 
Samuel  Williams,  her  brother  Richard  Williams  and  her  sister 
Elizabeth  Williams,  "that  are  in  New  England";  Benjamin  Wil- 
liams and  Nathaniel  Williams,  the  sons  of  her  brother  Samuel ; 
her  sister,  the  wife  of  John  Hall,  and  her  children  John,  Samuel, 
Daniel  and  Susanna.  The  testatrix  describes  herself  as  of  Whiten- 
hurst,  Gloucester — the  place  where  Richard  Williams  lived  before 
he  went  to  America. 

The  nephew,  who  made  the  other  will,  was  the  Benjamin,  son 
of  Samuel,  mentioned  in  the  first  will.  He  was  a  school  master 
and  lived  in  Surrey  County.  He  mentions  his  cousins,  the  Hall 
children,  named  in  Jane's  will  as  "now  or  late  of  Whitenhurst  in 
Co.  Gloucester :  "  other  cousins  apparently  on  his  mother's  side ; 
then  his  cousins,  Samuel,  Thomas  and  Benjamin  Williams  of.  New 
tjigland;  the  eldest  child  of  his  cousin,  Nathaniel  Williams  of 
New  England,  deceased ;  the  eldest  child  of  his  cousin  Joseph  Wil- 
liams, deceased;  his  cousin  Elizabeth  Bird  of  Dorchester,  New 
England;  the  eldest  child  of  his  cousin,  Hannah  Parmater.  He 
thus  not  only  names  all  the  children  of  Richard  Williams,  but  he 
calls  the  daughters  by  their  married  names,  and  also  mentions  as 
"  deceased "  the  two  sons  and  one  daughter  of  Richard  Wil- 
liams, who  had  then  died.  This  will  identifies  the  families  beyond 
peradventure. 

From  both,  w-e  learn  that  Richard  Williams  had  a  brother 
Samuel,  a  sister  Jane,  who  died  unmarried,  a  sister  who  married 
John  Hall,  and  a  sister  Elizabeth  Williams,  who,  in  1650,  was  in 
New  England.  We  learn,  too,  that  they  all  lived  in  Gloucester 
and  that  the  married  ones  had  families  there  ;  and  the  presump- 
tion is  very  strong  that  they  were  all  born  there,  or  came  there  in 
childhood  as  one  family.  Moreover  the  clause  in  the  nephew's 
will,  in  which  he  leaves  a  legacy  to  the  poor  of  Whitenhurst  in 
Gloucester,  "  any  poor  people  of  my  father's  kindred  principally  re- 
commended" shows  clearly  that  there  were  in  that  parish  collateral 
kindred  beyond  those  descended  from  his  father's  father,  as  he 
already  made  specific  legacies  to  all  of  them.  In  the  absence  of 
other  evidence,  I  hold  with  much  confidence  that  the  Williams 
family  had  lived  in  Gloucester  several  generations,  when  Richard 
Williams  left  his  old  home  to  seek  a  new  one  in  New  England. 


Il6  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  Roger  Williams  was  the  brother  of 
Richard,  or,  at  any  rate,  that  Richard  had  a  brother  Robert,  who 
married  a  sister  of  Roger  Williams.  The  enumeration  of  the 
family  in  these  two  wills  pretty  fully  demolishes  both  of  these 
theories.  In  my  researches  I  have  found  no  evidence  of  their 
truth.  As  yet,  however,  no  trace  has  been  found  of  this  "sister, 
Elizabeth  Williams,  "  who  was  in  New  England  in  1650;  it  does 
not  appear  whether  she  was  then  married  or  single ;  all  the  tradi- 
tion about  Richard's  having  a  brother  may  have  arisen  from  the 
marriage  of  this  sister,  Elizabeth,  with  a  husband  by  the  name  of 
Williams;  but  this  is  mere  conjecture. 

For  fifty  years  after  the  incorporation  of  Taunton,  there  is 
in  its  records  and  history  frequent  mention  of  the  name  of  Wil- 
liams; but  they  were  always  Richard  and  his  sons.  But  in  1688, 
Elias  Williams  witnessed  a  deed  executed  by  William  Makepeace, 
whose  daughter  Emmanuel  Williams  married,  not  many  years  la- 
ter; and  in  1796,  the  marriage  of  Charles  Williams  and  Mary 
Gladding  is  recorded.  These  are  in  a  contemporaneous  group ; 
and  apparently  Elias  and  Emmanuel  either  lived  with  William 
Makepeace  or  in  his  vicinity ;  still  whether  they,  or  any  of  them, 
were  of  one  family  is  yet  left  almost  wholly  to  conjecture.  Beyond 
the  record  of  the  birth  of  a  child,  Charles  made  no  further  sign, 
and  I  have  met  with  no  further  mention  of  Elias.  But  Emmanuel 
married,  and  in  1709  was  included  in  the  list  of  "Heads  of  Fami- 
lies" in  Taunton;  he  died  about  1719,  leaving  six  children  whose 
descendants  still  live  in  Dighton  and  New  Bedford.  But  these 
Williames  were  nearly  of  the  same  generation  as  Richard's  grand- 
children, and  could  scarcely  have  been  the  children  of  Elizabeth ; 
in  a  word,  her  history  is  still  a  blank. 

Richard  Williams  evidently  named  his  first  born,  John,  in 
honor  of  his  wife's  father.  His  naming  his  first  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, and  the  fact  that  he  had  a  sister  (apparently  the  oldest)  by 
the  same  name,  indicate  that  his  own  mother  bore  that  name  also. 
Considering,  too,  the  practice  in  those  times,  the  facts  that  Rich- 
ard named  his  second  son,  Samuel,  and  that  his  older  brother's 
name  was  the  same,  if  I  were  endeavoring  to  trace  his  parents,  I 
should  look  first  for  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Williams. 

But  this  reminds  me  that  my  work  is  confined  to  his  descend- 
ants, and  I  am  happy  to  say  that  in  spite  of  the  deplorable  loss  of 
early  records,  with  the  generous  aid  I  have  received,  I  have  had 
unexpected  success,  and  I  expect  to  add  something  to  the  mate- 
rials for  the  history  of  Taunton. 

And  in  this  connection  may  I  be  allowed  to  express  the  hope, 
that  in  the  near  future,  some  son  or  daughter  of  Taunton,  "  to  the 


THE    BANQUET.  I  I  7 

manor  born,"  will  undertake  to  write  that  history.  My  friend  on 
my  right  (Rev.  Mr.  Emery)  has  already  given  us  an  exceedingly 
valuable  and  interesting  history  of  the  "  Ministry  of  Taunton  ;  " 
but  there  is  yet  a  mine  of  historic  wealth,  almost  wholly  unex- 
plored. Few  towns  in  the  whole  country  afford  materials  for  a 
history  so  well  worth  writing  as  "  Ancient  Taunton.  "  It  is  a  duty 
which  this  generation  owes  both  to  the  past  and  to  the  future  to 
prevent  the  loss  of  these  materials.  I  trust  you  will  allow  my  re- 
cently discovered  relationship  to  be  a  sufficient  justification  for  my 
pressing  this  matter  most  earnestly  upon  your  attention. 

Does  some  one  ask  "r///  bono}''''  What  good  will  result  ? 
For  answer,  I  point  to  the  wonderful  growth  and  prosperity  of 
your  city  and  her  sister  towns,  founded  by  that  little  colony  two 
centuries  and  a  half  ago,  and,  in  turn,  ask  what  have  been  the 
causes  ?  Will  not  the  same  causes  continue  in  the  future  to  pro- 
duce the  same  results  ? 

It  has  been  well  said  that  "  Eulogies  of  the  dead  are  useful 
only  as  lessons  to  the  living.  "  So  the  history  of  the  past  is  use- 
ful only  as  a  guide  to  the  present  and  the  future. 

The  history  of  "  the  First  Settlers  "  shows  that  with  them 
came  the  minister  and  the  school  master;  their  earliest  laws 
denounced  idleness  and  dissipation.  The  foundations,  which  they 
laid  for  the  success  of  their  enterprise,  were  industry,  sobriety, 
education  and  religion  ;  to  know  how  well  they  succeeded  we  have 
only  to  look  around  us.  To  continue  this  success,  you  must  con- 
tinue to  build  upon  the  same  foundations;  and  in  earnestly  bespeak- 
ing for  you.  growth  and  prosperity,  equal  to  your  most  ardent 
hopes,  I  can  best  do  so  by  expressing  the  wish  that  when  another 
"two  hundred  and  fifty  years  "  has  rolled  away  and  your  descend- 
ants of  that  day  and  generation  shall  assemble  to  celebrate  the 
event,  they  may  be  able  to  say  truly,  "As  the  First  Settlers  found- 
ed, so  have  their  successors  builded." 

Our  next  toast  shall  be  "Taunton  in  the  Revolution," 
and  I  am  happy  to  present  to  you  one  who  bears  with  undi- 
minished honor  the  name  of  his  great-grandfather,  the  adopt- 
ed son  of  Taunton,  who  was  one  of  the  immortal  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  Robert  Treat  Paine. 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.    ROBERT    TREAT    PAINE. 
Mr.    C/iainuafi : — 

I  rejoice  in  the  privilege  of  being  here  to  share  in  the  pleas- 
ures of  this  great  day,  and  to  be  inspired  by  the  reminiscences  of 
our  glorious  past. 


Il8  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

1  come  with  the  feelings  of  a  wanderer  returning  to  the  old 
home  from  which  io8  years  ago  my  great  grandfather  wandered 
away,  but  I  read  on  the  great  arch  which  you  have  thrown  across 
your  Main  street  the  cordial  words,  "  Sons  and  Daughters,  Wel- 
come Home. " 

I  am  glad  to  have  listened  to  the  profoundly  interesting  ad- 
dress of  the  Orator  of  the  Day,  your  distinguished  fellow  citizen 
and  my  honored  friend,  and  to  have  heard  his  vivid  account  of 
the  growth  of  this  wonderful  quarter  millennial  period. 

No  wonder  that  after  we  pass  from  the  Platform  of  History 
to  the  freer  festivities  of  this  Hall  of  Banquet,  we  feel  tempted  to 
let  the  American  Eagle  scream  just  a  little  with  irrepressible  delight 
and  even  ourselves  to  give  again  that  famous  American  Toast. 

Even  while  we  are  celebrating  this  and  our  recent  centennial 
anniversaries,  some  of  our  countrymen  have  gone  abroad  to  wit- 
ness similar  centennials  in  France. 

How  can  we  help  comparing  our  growth  in  prosperity  with 
the  decay  which  is  seen  in  parts  of  Europe. 

Only  this  week  we  read  of  workmen  leaving  Italy  in  such 
numbers  as  almost  to  depopulate  some  places,  and  we  know  how 
the  intolerable  burdens  of  taxation  crush  their  energies  and  how 
homes  are  emptied  of  their  young  men  drafted  into  their  great 
standing  army. 

Turn  for  a  moment  to  the  striking  contrast  of  France  to  the 
United  States  now  and  in  the  days  of  our  Revolution. 

Then  France  was  rich  in  all  the  accumulations  of  wealth  and 
art  and  poetry  and  cultivated  life.  Massachusetts  was  bare  in- 
deed! Rich  only  in  the  character  of  its  citizens,  but  otherwise  in 
the  condition  of  barest  need  described  by  Shakespeare: — - 

"Oh   reason  not  the  need  ; 
Allow  not  nature  more  than  nature  needs. 
Man's  life  is  eheap  as  beasts." 

Shay's  Rebellion  grew  out  of  the  dire  distress  into  which  a 
large  part  of  our  people  were  plunged  when  the  war  was  over  and 
the  army  disbanded  and  the  payments  for  the  war  had  ceased. 
Perhaps  it  was  true  of  Taunton  as  it  was  said  of  some  towns,  that 
there  was  not  actually  money  enough  in  the  whole  town  to  pay  the 
tax.     What  a  wonderful  contrast  in  these  two  nations  physically  ! 

Washington  and  Napoleon  were  types  of  the  two  national 
characters.  Each  nation  rose  under  its  great  leader  to  a  place  of 
high  honor  before  the  eyes  of  the  world. 

The  aim  of  Washington  was  honorable  peace  and  a  stable 
government  of  the  people. 


THE    BANQUET.  I  I9 

That  of  Napoleon  was  brilliant  war  and  successful  conquest. 
The  aims  of  each  were  accomplished,  but  what  has  been  the  har- 
vest? 

Washington's  name  has  risen  in  the  affectionate  honor  of  the 
world,  till  to-day  men  like  Gladstone  proclaim  that  the  loftiest 
pedestal  in  the  history  of  the  world  belongs  to  Washington,  and 
the  character  which  he  typified  and  helped  to  impress  on  our 
country,  has  become  our  noblest  inheritance,  but  in  France  in  less 
than  sixty  years  after  his  warlike  uncle's  death,  the  younger  Napo- 
leon, in  needless  and  fatal  war  lost  at  the  disastrous  defeat  at 
Sedan,  besides  his  own  throne,  the  accumulated  glory  which  it  had 
taken  France  ten  centuries  to  acquire. 

No  wonder  that  to-day  France  is  ready  to  cast  itself  in  des- 
pair into  the  arms  of  an  exiled  charlatan. 

What  are  the  great  causes  of  this  tide  of  prosperity  which 
has  changed  the  face  of  Taunton  and  of  Massachusetts  from  the 
gloom  of  Shay's  Rebellion  to  the  abounding  wealth  of  to-day? 

What  are  the  deep  causes  of  this  even  more  striking  contrast 
of  character  between  France  and  our  country? 

Were  there  not  four  noble  traits  of  character  which  had  long 
been  growing  strong  but  which  were  fully  matured  in  the  great 
days  of  the  Revolution,  when  this  nation  like  a  young  giant  was 
just  rising  out  of  youth  into  full  life? 

Shall  we  not  put  first,  as  the  most  prominent  feature  of  our 
national  character  in  those  days,  as  ever  since,  fixed,  resolute,  in- 
domitable Will  ? 

Who  can  conceive  how  sad  would  have  been  our  fate  and  how 
striking  the  contrast  if  the  national  character  had  been  weak 
vacillation ! 

Was  not  the  second  great  trait  the  strong  sense  of  Justice,  in 
both  directions;  yielding  justice  towards  others,  (what  more  strik- 
ing illustration  and  proof  of  the  spirit  of  justice  than  in  the  ac- 
count we  listened  to  this  morning  from  Judge  Bennett  of  how 
every  inch  of  land  in  Taunton  was  acquired  of  the  Indians  with 
absolute  honesty,  a  fact  I  was  surprised  and  delighted  to  hear :) 
and  also  demanding  justice  for  themselves  at  all  hazards,  at  any 
cost  or  sacrifice,  without  purchase  or  concession ;  proclaiming  to 
the  world  their  rights,  and  pledging  their  lives  and  fortunes  and 
sacred  honor  to  maintain  them. 

The  third  great  trait  of  the  character  of  those  days  was  pro- 
found religious  faith  which  in  every  event  of  life,  looked  to  God 
for  support,  a  spirit  which  was  powerfully  manifested  on  many  oc- 


120  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

casions  in  the  early  life  of  Taunton,  as  told  in  the  address  this 
morning  and  which  we  have  just  heard  wonderfully  described  in 
the  address  from  Dr.  Dexter. 

The  last  great  trait  of  character  which  in  my  judgment 
molded  the  life  of  those  days  and  of  these,  is  a  profound  spirit  of 
hopefulness: — which  could  listen  to  Jonathan  Edwards  and  still 
love  God:  which  could  throw  overboard  the  tea  and  still  be 
calm ;  which  wrestled  with  all  the  varying  problems  of  a  life  some- 
what severe  and  still  was  full  of  hope. 

If  to-day  I  were  searching  for  that  trait  which  like  Aladdin's 
magic  lamp,  is  most  potent  to  improve  the  lot  and  physical  career 
of  the  masses  of  the  people,  the  habit  of  hope  seems  to  me  most 
able  to  accomplish  this  grand  consummation. 

Are  not  these  the  four  great  characteristics  of  the  times  and 
lives  of  our  fathers .'' 

Strong,  fixed,  indomitable  will  which  wrenched  victory  from 
any  circumstances  most  adverse. 

That  sense  of  justice  which  has  made  this  people  love  law 
and  grow  into  the  most  law-abiding  people  in  the  world. 

Firm  religious  faith  has  given  depth  and  intensity  to  life  and 
has  inspired  our  race  with  the  ennobling  conviction  that  as  we 
live  in  God,  so  God  guides  and  supports  us. 

Soaring  hope  has  lifted  man's  aspirations  to  lofty  possibilities 
and  grows  into  a  mighty  power  to  make  possibilities  our  actual  life. 
Even  as  no  more  fatal  palsy  can  create  the  evil  it  dreads,  than 
weak  despair,  so  no  force  more  potently  creates  what  it  desires 
than  unwavering  hope. 

Fixed  Purpose,  Justice,  Faith  and  Hope,  these  are  the  four 
corner-stones  of  American  character.  These  are  the  noble  quali- 
ties which  were  the  bulwarks  of  our  national  life  in  the  crisis  of 
the  Revolution  and  which  were  brought  to  full  maturity  in  that 
long  ordeal. 

These  are  the  qualities  which  are  our  strength  to-day  and 
which  we  rejoice  to  have  inherited  from  our  fathers'  fathers  and  to 
believe  that  we  shall  transmit  to  our  children's  children. 

These  are  the  qualities  which  make  great  men.  These  are 
the  qualities  which  are  radiant  with  enduring  promise,  and  which 
enable  us  to  look  into  the  future  with  head  erect  and  eye  toward 
Heaven,  and  hearts  beating  high  with  hope,  as  we  repeat  the  bold 
prophecy  of  Tennyson  in  Locksley  Hall. 

"  Forward,  forward   lei  us  range  ; 
Let  the  great  World  spin  forever 
Down  the  ringing  grooves  of  change." 


THE    BANQUET.  T2T 

This  seems  to  be  a  good  time  to  hear  from  our  Orator 
of  the  Day,  whose  admirable  address  was  just  what  we  ex- 
pected from  one  who  always  does  his  work  so  thoroughly 
and  well.  Let  me  introduce  to  you  the  Hon.  I'klmund  II. 
Bennett. 

RESPONSE    BV    HON.    E.    H.     BENNETT. 
Air.    Toasff/iaster: — 

I  rise,  sir,  at  your  bidding,  but  not  to  make  a  second  address 
to  an  audience  which  has  already  heard  me  for  two  mortal  hours 
and  more.  I  am  aware  it  is  customary  on  these  occasions  to  call 
up  the  Orator  of  the  Day,  as  he  is  sometimes  styled,  but  who 
might  on  this  occasion  more  properly  be  called  simply  the  "  Histori- 
cal Addresser.  "  Such  a  custom  is  one  of  those  perhaps  "  more 
honored  in  the  breach  than  in  the  observance,  "  were  it  not  that  it 
properly  limits  the  response  to  thanking  the  audience  for  their 
patient  attention  and  kind  consideration  in  listening  to  his  pre- 
vious effort  of  the  day.  This  is  especially  fitting  in  this  case,  be- 
cause of  the  very  extraordinary  but  necessary  length  of  my  address, 
which  not  only  must  have  sorely  tried  the  patience  of  the  hearers, 
but  which  has  left  my  voice  in  a  condition  totally  unfit  for  any 
longer  service.  Thanking  you  for  the  courtesy  of  your  request, 
and  all  here  present  for  their  patient  attention  to,  and  tender  in- 
terest in  what  I  had  to  say  this  morning,  I  beg  to  be  excused  from 
saying  more. 

We  do  not  intend  to  lag  behind  the  statelier  ceremonies 
of  the  morning  in  paying  our  homage  to  the  Muse.  A  poem 
written  by  one  of  Taunton's  gentle  poets.  Miss  Mary  E.  N. 
Hatheway,  will  now  be  read  by  the  Rev.  John  P.  Forbes : — 

THE    OLD    COLONISTS. 

Let  us  recall  them  to-day, 
With  reverence  due  their  degree, — 
Men  who  through  hardship  and  toil 
Opened  the  Land  of  the  Free. 

Leaving  their  country  and  kin. 
Stations  of  plenty  and  pride, 
Slender  in  number  their  bands, 
They  crossed  the  ocean-track^wide. 


122  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Reaching  these  unchristened  shores, 
Bleak  in  their  barren  repose, 
Girded  by  forests  untrod 
Save  by  the  footsteps  of  foes ; 

But  steadfast  in  courage  and  heart 

To  face  the  known  and  unknown, 

United  in  purpose  they  stood, 

And  chose  the  New  World  for  their  own ; 

Turning  not  back  in  despair 
When  pressed  with  want  and  disease ; 
Not  famine,  disaster  nor  death. 
Could  daunt  such  spirits  as  these. 

Valiant  the  birthright  they  owned. 
Saxon,   Norman  and   Dane, 
Blent  in  their  English  blood, 
Molding  their  fibre  and  braui. 

Lovers  of  justice  and  law. 
They  gave  defiance  and  hate 
To  error,  and  tyrannous  sway 
Ruling  in  Church  or  in  State. 

Faith  in  the  guidance  Divine, 
Faith  in  man's  knowledge  of  Right, 
Led  them  in  peril  and  peace. 
Wrought  in  their  labors  with  might. 

Simple  in  order  they  built 
Altars  of  Learning  and  Home, 
Fairer  than  sculptures  of  fame. 
Arch  or  imperial  dome. 

Time,  the  searcher  of  lives. 
Their  work  has  measured  and  weighed, 
And  over  their  memory  sheds 
Honor  that  never  can  fade. 

Liberty,  star  of  their  hope. 
Worshipped  through  storm-beaten   days. 
Risen  full-orbed  in  the  West, 
Now  lightens  the  earth  with  its  rays. 

Seed  which  in  darkness  they  sowed. 
Tending  with  vigils  and  prayer, 
'i'hrough  all  the  ages  shall  grow. 
Harvests  immortal  to  bear. 


THE     BANQUET.  123 

At  this  time  of  good  feeling  and  good  cheer  we  will 
have  no  quarrel  about  Elizabeth  Pool  and  her  peck  of  beans. 
Our  historians  who  throw  doubt  on  that  story  are  tied  to  the 
traditions  of  Plymouth  Rock,  where  they  undoubtedly  never 
had  a  bean.  For  do  we  not  frequently  read  in  the  chronicles 
of  the  colonists  the  brief  but  significant  legend,  "  Nota 
Bene"  .''  Now  P21izabeth  Pool  came  from  Boston  or  its  imme- 
diate vicinity ;  and  without  doubt  brought  with  her  for  her 
Sunday  dinner  a  supply  of  those  delicious  vegetables  which 
have  always  been  a  distinguishing  feature  of  Boston  culture. 
And  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  in  making  her  trade  with  the 
aborigines,  she  threw  in  a  few  beans  as  a  delicate  token  of 
her  "bean"eficent  spirit  towards  the  poor  Indians.  So  let 
critics  no  longer  peck  at  that  peck  of  beans  story. 

If  I  am  not  right  in  these  conclusions  let  me  be  aided 
and  counselled  by  the  most  worthy  president  of  the  Old 
Colony  Historical  Society,  a  society  which  in  its  thirty-five 
years'  existence  has  done  excellent  service  in  rescuing  our 
local  history  from  oblivion  and  from  falsehood  which  is 
worse  than  oblivion.  But  as  my  friend  has  been  doing  two 
men's  work  all  his  life,  I  am  going  to  call  on  him  to  respond 
not  only  for  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  but  also  for 
the  Ministry  of  Taunton,  of  which  he  has  himself  been  so 
large  a  part,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  Emery. 

RESPONSE    BY    REV.     S.     H.     EMERY. 

Mr.  Toashnaster  :— 

You  very  well  know  that  I  persistently  refused  to  answer  any 
sentiment,  for  the  very  good  reason  that  none  of  the  precious  time 
of  this  memorable  occasion  should  be  wasted  on  one,  who  is  but  a 
relic  of  a  past  generation  and  who  might  better  form  a  part  of  the 
loan  exhibition  over  yonder  in  Historical  Hall.  But  your  persist- 
ence, it  seems,  proves  more  than  mine,  and  here  I  am  in  the  pres- 
ence of  this  most  respectable  company,  called  upon  to  speak  for 
the  "Ministrv  of  -Taunton." 


124  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Having  already,  some  years  ago,  published  all  I  knew  on  this 
prolific  theme  in  two  bulky  volumes,  I  will  not  presume  to  enlarge 
— certainly  not  to  the  extent  of  issuing  a  new  edition  of  that  work 
in  an  after  dinner  speech  of  two  or  five  minutes,  when  we  are  all 
anxious  to  hear  from  our  eminent  visitors  from  abroad,  one  of 
whom,  the  present  chief  magistrate  of  our  sister  state  of  Rhode 
Island,  sits  by  my  side. 

I  will  content  myself  with  expressing  my  extreme  satisfaction 
at  taking  by  the  hand  to-day  a  direct  descendant,  of  the  seventh 
generation,  from  that  most  eminent  first  settler  and  father  of  the 
ancient  Cohannet,  Richard  Williams,  (at  the  same  time  grasping 
the  hand  of  the  Hon.  Josiah  H.  Drummond  of  Portland,  Maine, 
who  sat  next  to  him)  my  satisfaction  also,  at  looking  into  the  face 
of  another,  sitting  yonder,  the  Rev.  George  E.  Street,  of  Exeter, 
New  Hampshire,  who  is  directly  descended,  in  the  seventh  genera- 
tion, from  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Street,  the  eminent  associate  of  the 
no  less  eminent  William  Hook,  in  the  first  pastorate  of  the  Taun- 
ton church. 

This  descendant  has  the  distinguished  honor  likewise,  of  be- 
ing a  direct  descendant,  on  his  mother's  side,  of  the  famous  John 
Davenport  of  New  Haven  and  Boston — which  Davenport  had  for 
his  colleague  in  New  Haven,  first  Hook  and  afterward  Street,  who 
also  became  his  successor  in  the  ministry.  The  first  two  Taunton 
ministers,  Oxford  graduates  in  Old  England,  were  learned  and 
godly  ministers,  ranking  among  the  foremost  Divines  in  this,  then 
new  world. 

In  passing,  I  may  say,  in  a  letter  just  received  from  Mr. 
Edwin  Sloper,  the  well  known  antiquarian  of  the  mother  town, 
Taunton,  Somersetshire,  England,  expressing  his  regret  at  not  be- 
ing able  to  be  with  us  to-day,  he  writes: — "Had  I  been  able  to 
participate  in  your  welcome  gathering,  it  was  my  intention  to  read 
a  short  paper  on  'old  Taunton'  and  how  a  tribe  of  incoming 
Saxons  settled  in  the  Dean  and  made  it  their  home  in  the  seventh 
century.  I  think  I  should  also  have  been  capable  of  nearly  prov- 
ing that  Street  gave  the  name  to  your  town.  " 

Well,  if  he  did  not  give  our  town  its  name,  we  know  the 
Spring  street  bridge  bore  his  name,  and,  although  superseded  by 
another  and  a  better  may  well  be  called  Streets  Bridge,  for  the 
minister's  homestead  was  by  its  side. 

But  I  must  hasten  on,  and — out  of  respect  to  that  virgin 
mother  of  Taunton,  the  gentlewoman,  who,  if  she  did  not  buy  the 
town  in  its  beginning,  was  as  Robert  Treat  Paine  wrote  of  her,  "a 
chief  promoter  of  its  settlement, ''  and  should  be  held  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance.  Miss    Elizabeth  Pole — I  will  ask  your  atten- 


THE     BANQUET.  12$ 

tion  to  the  production,  in  verse,  of  one  of  the  daughters  of  Taun- 
ton, ever  loyal  to  the  good  old  town  and  a  lover  of  its  hills  and 
brooks — its  every  foot  of  soil  and  drop  of  running  water — Miss 
Anna  Dennis  Reed. 

I  may  add,  these  lines  were  prepared  specially  for  this  occa- 
sion, and  made  to  be  sung  to  the  melody  of  "  Sweet  Afton,  "  but 
you  will  hardly  expect  a  song  from  one,  who  long  ago  hung  his 
harp  on  the  willows. 

To  present  residents  on  Mill  river,  it  may  not  be  necessary  to 
say,  that  the  "  Sweet  I'aunton, "  which  is  the  subject  of  our  song, 
is  not  that  stream  but  the  larger,  grander,  sweeter  stream,  on 
which  are  built  the  Taunton  Water  Works,  and  which  has  long 
borne  the  name  of  "Taunton  Great  River,"  to  distinguish  it  from 
inferior,  smaller  streams. 

Flow  gently,  sweet  Taunton,  thy  bright  course  along, 
Flow  gently,  sweet  river,  the  theme  of  my  song, 
For  planted  along  by  thy  silvery  tide. 
Are  the  happiest  homes  in   all  the  world  wide. 

We  love  thee,  sweet  River;  thy  banks  are  as  green. 
As  when  by  brave   Winslow   and   Hopkins  first  seen ; 
The  sturgeon  and  shad  still   in  summer  are  here, 
And  herrings  make  glad  the  spring-time  of  the  year. 

Flow  gently,  for  oft  by  thy  murmuring  stream. 
The  maiden  and  lover  have  breathed  life's  young  dream; 
Flow  gently,  the  wise  and  the  fair  of  lang  syne, 
Have  wandered  so  oft  on  those  green  banks  of  thine. 

Sweet  River,  so  long  as  thy  tides  ebb  and  flow, 
And  o'er  thy  clear  water  the  cooling  winds  blow, 
Thy  name  for  fond  memories  and  hopes  will  be  dear, 
To  all  who  find  peaceful   and  happy  homes  here. 

For  many  years  and  until  our  vigorous  sister  city  on 
Mt.  Hope  Bay  came  in  for  her  thirds,  Taunton  divided  with 
New  Bedford  the  honors  of  the  Shire  town  of  the  County. 
We  want  to  hear  to-day  from  this  our  twin  shire  and  I  call 
upon  her  distinguished  citizen,  the  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo. 

RESPONSE    HV    HON.     W.     W.     CRAPO. 

Afr.   Chairman : — 

Manufacturing  New  Bedford  brings  greetings  to  maritime 
Taunton.  The  City  of  the  Sea  joins  in  the  general  congratula- 
tions and  with  hearty  good  wishes  recognizes  the  importance  of 
the  merchant  marine  of  the  City  at  the  head  waters  of  Taunton 


126        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

River.  The  web-footed  denizens  of  Buzzards  Bay  are  a  trifle  per- 
plexed as  they  hear  of  the  growth  of  vessel  ownership  in  this  inland 
community.  How  comes  it  that  while  our  tonnage  fades  yours  in- 
creases ?  You  do  not  hear  the  music  of  the  waves  as  they  roll 
upon  the  beach  ;  you  do  not  gather  inspiration  from  the  breakers 
dashing  against  the  rocks.  You  must  have  learned  the  story  of 
the  sea  from  the  herrings,  as  in  the  spring  time  they  climb  your 
fish  ways  on  their  journey  to  the  spawning  grounds.  While  your 
sister  shiretown  has  put  the  earnings  of  many  generations,  gathered 
from  the  Brazil  banks  and  the  Gallipagos  Islands,  from  New  Zea- 
land and  the  Arctic,  into  hundreds  of  thousands  of  cotton  spindles, 
the  proceeds  of  your  labor  and  thrift  find  investment  in  a  fleet  of 
magnificent  sailing  vessels  which  in  model  and  carrying  capacity 
is  the  envy  of  every  sea  port.  May  your  pluck  and  enterprise 
in  this  direction  meet,  as  it  deserves,  with  continued  and  abundant 
success. 

But  on  this  occasion  we  turn  from  the  present,  however  pros- 
perous and  promising,  to  the  contemplation  of  the  past.  Our 
thoughts  go  back  to  the  first  beginnings  of  this  model  New  Eng- 
land Community,  as  we  listen  to  the  story  of  its  founders,  so  elo- 
quently told  by  the  Orator  of  the  day.  The  men  who  penetrated 
the  wilderness  and  built  their  cabins  on  the  banks  of  your  beau- 
tiful river  were  hardy,  sturdy,  earnest  men  wlio  had  a  purpose 
which  unselfishly  and  heroically  they  maintained.  We  need  not 
repeat  the  phrases  which  describe  their  qualities  and  virtues.  They 
were  God-fearing,  self-reliant  men.  They  have  never  been  ex- 
celled for  inflexible  integrity  of  character.  With  toil  and  self- 
denial  they  met  unflinchingly  the  exigencies  which  surrounded 
them.  History  furnishes  no  instance  of  public  honor  and  individ- 
ual self-sacrifice  surpassing  that  of  our  fathers  at  the  close  of  the 
Indian  Whys  which  devastated  this  region.  After  a  struggle  for 
existence,  in  which  the  mother  Country  had  rendered  no  assist- 
ance, but  with  strange  indifterence  had  left  the  Colonists  to  fight 
single-handed  against  savagery ;  with  numbers  decimated  and 
homes  desolated  by  the  tomahawk  and  the  torch,  the  pioneer  men 
of  the  old  Colony  proved  themselves  as  honest  as  they  had  been 
brave.  With  a  public  debt  greater  iji  amount  than  the  value  of 
the  entire  personal  property  within  the  Colony  they  paid  that  debt, 
not  in  paper  promises,  but  with  gold  and  silver  coin,  unmurmur- 
ingly  asking  no  abatement.  These  men  as  they  saw  their  duty 
performed  it.  If  their  public  administrations  were  at  times  marked 
with  austerities,  they  were  never  marred  by  compromises  and  were 
free  from  evasions.  Whatever  the  issue  presented,  they  met  it 
squarely.     There  was  no   mistaking  the  meaning  of  your  David 


TIIK    nANOUET.  12/ 

Cobb  when,  standing  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  facing  the  armed 
mal-contents  who  demanded  the  abandonment  of  the  Court,  he 
said,  "I  will  sit  as  a  Judge  or  I  will  die  as  a  General.  "  And  he 
did  sit  as  a  Judge.  The  men  who  inaugurated  civil  government  in 
the  Old  Colony  may  not  have  been,  in  details  and  methods,  as 
broad-minded  and  liberal  as  the  men  of  the  present  day,  but  they 
were  clean  handed  and  brave  hearted.  Whatever  their  limitations 
they  stood  by  the  principles  of  uprightness  and  strict  justice  and 
old  fashioned  honor,  and  the  result,  after  the  lapse  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years,  is  a  proud,  powerful,  infiuential  Commonwealth, 
leading  the  nations  in  moral  and  mental  elevation  of  the  people 
and  in  the  triumphs  of  social  order. 

In  many  things  we  are  in  advance  of  our  fathers.  In  the.se 
days  a  man  may  believe  in  his  religion  and  allow  every  other  man 
the  same  liberty:  a  man  may  practice  piety  without  feeling  it 
necessary  to  practice  persecution.  The  intolerance  of  the  past  has 
been  softened  by  liberality.  We  have  lifted  and  broadened  the 
social,  moral  and  intellectual  life  of  all  the  people,  and  in  count- 
less ways  have  beautified  humanity  by  works  of  philanthropic  en- 
terprise. These  are  results  expected  of  us  from  the  training  and 
teachings,  the  wisdom  and  virtue  of  the  past.  The  foundation 
upon  which  rest  the  progress  and  glory  of  the  present  was  laid  in 
the  character  and  struggles  of  the  early  settlers.  By  their  example 
we  have  been  strengthened,  encouraged  and  cheered.  The  duly 
which  devolves  upon  us,  in  meeting  the  fortunes  and  trials  which 
are  before  us,  is  to  keep  up  the  standard  of  public  virtue  which 
they  established. 

The  Military  Record  of  Taunton  : — The  first  military 
order  issued  in  Taunton  was  given  in  1639,  ^'"^^l  was  to  the 
effect  that  "  Capt.  Pole  exercise  the  inhabitants  in  armes.  " 
That  order  having  been  issued  to  an  infant  colony,  the  natu- 
ral result,  of  course,  has  been  that  babes  in  Taunton  have 
been  exercised  in  arms  ever  since.  The  next  notable  military 
order  (of  which  I  care  now  to  speak,)  was  when  Brig.  Gen'l 
and  Judge  David  Cobb  cried  aloud  near  the  court  house 
.steps,  "I  will  sit  as  Judge  or  die  as  General.  "  The  result 
of  that  has  been  that  a  kernel  from  the  same  Cobb  has  cried 
aloud  in  the  court  house  ever  since,  or  at  least  for  the  last 
generation. 


128  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Having  brought  you  in  this  expeditious  manner  out  of 
ancient  history,  I  refer  you,  for  the  later  record,  to  the  brave 
and  tried  soldier  of  the  last  war,  Capt.  Geo.  A.  Washburn. 

RESPONSE    BY    CAPT.     GEO.    A.    WASHBURN. 

The  history  of  Taunton  in  the  early  wars  has  been  eloquently 
told  by  the  Orator  of  the  Day.  In  the  few  moments  allotted  to 
me  I  can  only  give  a  very  brief  review  of  Taunton's  work  in  the 
great  Rebellion.  At  the  outbreak  of  this  war,  this  city,  then  a 
town,  had  one  company  of  Volunteer  Militia,  Co,  "G,"  attached  to 
the  4th  Regiment  of  Infantry. 

It  had  but  one  commander  from  its  organization,  until  the 
close  of  its  service  for  the  first  three  months  of  the  war,  Captain 
Timothy  Gordon.  This  company  was  ordered  into  service  by 
special  messenger  on  the  morning  of  April  16,  1861 — the  requi- 
sition from  Washington  upon  the  Governor  of  this  Commonwealth 
for  twenty  companies  having  been  telegraphed  to  Boston  on  the 
day  previous,  April  15.  On  the  27th  day  of  April,  eleven  days 
after  the  departure  of  Co.  "  G,  "  a  legal  town  meeting  was  held 
and  the  town  voted  to  furnish  each  soldier  who  should  enlist  from 
Taunton  a  full  uniform,  to  pay  him  ^15,  and  such  a  sum  as  should 
make  his  pay  $26  a  month.  .  The  committee  appointed  consisted 
of  Thompson  Newbury.  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  Henry  Williams, 
Lovett  Morse,  Harrison  Tweed,  L.  B.  Church  and  S.  O.  Dunbar. 

During  the  absence  of  this  company  at  Fortress  Monroe  and 
vicinity,  the  most  vigorous  measures  for  recruiting  a  three  years' 
regiment  from  this  vicinity  were  pursued.  The  Seventh  Regiment 
of  Infantry  was  the  result.  This  regiment  was  mustered  in  June 
15th,  i86i,for  three  years.  The  colonel  was  a  soldier  whom 
Taunton  has  always  honored,  Darius  N.  Couch.  In  this  year, 
1861,  five  companies  distinctively  belonging  to  Taunton  were 
recruited,  Companies  C,  D  and  F,  of  the  7th  Regiment,  Company 
B,  18th  Regiment,  Company  C,  2 2d  Regiment.  Taunton  furnish- 
ed men  in  other  companies  in  the  same  regiments. 

The  cost  to  the  town  in  1861,  was  bounties,  5,085.00,  other 
expenses,  12,782.28,  a  total  of  $17,867.28;  and  493  men  enlisted, 
of  whom  154  received  no  bounty. 

The  same  methods  of  recruiting  were  followed  in  1862,  that 
is,  local  companies  were  recruited  so  that  the  regiments  raised 
prior  to  July,  1863,  contained  companies  enlisted  entirely  from  a 
locality  and  whose  members  had  been  former  associates. 

In  1862,  Co.  B,  33d  Regiment,  Capt.  James  Brown  ;  Co.  F, 
39th  Regiment,  Capt.  J.  J,    Cooper,    both  companies  enlisting  for 


THE    BANQUET.  I  29 

three  years,  and  C"o.  G,  Capt.  C.  H.  Paull  and  Co.  K,  Capt.  W.  H. 
Bartlett  both  attached  to  the  4th  Regiment  and  whose  term  of  ser- 
vice was  nine  months,  were  recruited. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1862,  at  a  town  meeting,  it  was  voted, 
that  a  bount}'  of  $200,  be  paid  to  each  volunteer,  enlisting  for 
three  years.  At  a  meeting  held  August  26,  it  was  voted  that  a 
bounty  of  $100  be  paid  to  each  volunteer,  for  nine  months,  these 
bounties  to  be  paid  to  those  soldiers  who  enlisted  as  a  part  of  the 
quota  of  Taunton.  The  number  enlisting  in  1862  was  170  three 
years  men.  and  166  nine  months  men.  Bounties  paid,  $65,800.00. 
other  expenses,  $500,  total,  $66,300.00. 

It  would  seem  that  by  January,  1863,  the  military  ardor  had 
much  abated,  and  that  voluntary  enlistments  had  almost  ceased. 
It  had  been  discovered  that  other  methods  than  voluntary  enlist- 
ments must  be  adopted  to  fill  the  ranks  and  this  contingency  Con- 
gress provided  for  by  law.  On  the  29th  day  of  April,  1863, 
Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  was  appointed  Provost  Marshal  of  the  2d 
District.  His  associates  upon  the  Board  were  Nathaniel  Wales 
of  .Stoughton  and  Henry  B.  Hubbard,  M.  D.,  of  Taunton. 

The  first  draft  was  held  in  Taunton,  July  15,  1863,  and  the 
first  man  drafted  from  Taunton  was  Alfred  Martin.  The  entire 
number  of  men  drafted  was  3,260;  exempted  for  various  causes, 
1,880;  number  drafted  who  served  in  person,  64;  recruits  furn- 
ished, 569;  substitutes,  643:  amount  of  commutation  paid  by 
drafted  men,  $94,800.  One  result  or  out-come  of  the  draft  was 
a  great  stimulation  of  those  liable  to  involuntary  service. 

On  the  3d  of  December,  1863,  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  held 
in  the  interest  of  those  liable  to  draft  and  a  committee  chosen 
consisting  of  T.  Newbury,  H.  Tweed,  S.  L.  Crocker,  S.  O.  Dun- 
bar, L.  B.  Church,  E.  H.  Bennett,  Jas.  Brown,  Sam'l  A.  Dean, 
C.  L.  Lovering,  Alex.  Hodges,  Alfred  Paull  and  N.  S.  Williams. 
On  the  17th  of  December  following,  another  meeting  was  held 
and  Geo.  M.  Woodward  was  chosen  treasurer,  to  receive  contribu- 
tions which  committees  chosen  at  the  foregoing  meetings  were  ac- 
tively soliciting.  The  number  of  men  enlisted  in  1863  was  308; 
bounties  paid,  $26,505;  other  expenses,  $439.56 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  Allen  Presbrey,  Abram  Briggs  and  Na- 
than S.  Williams  were  elected  selectmen.  Messrs.  Briggs  and 
Williams,  together  with  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Phillips,  were  constituted  by 
the  citizens  a  board  of  trustees  to  have  entire  charge  of  recruiting, 
to  receive  and  hold  moneys  contributed  and  to  expend  the  same 
in  filling  the  quotas.  Geo.  A.  Washburn  was  chosen  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  this  board  and  so  continued  until  the  close  of  the 
war.     By  the  active  exertions  of  this  Board,  drafts  were  averted. 


130  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

the  quotas  promptly  filled  and  while  many  towns  in  the  state  lost 
heavily  by  reason  of  having  their  recruits  taken  from  them  fraudu- 
lently, it  is  believed  that  Taunton  held  all  its  own  and  "  a  little 
over.  "  The  total  quotas  of  Taunton  for  1864  were  356  ;  bounties 
paid,  $84,803  ;  other  expenses,  $804.39  ;  total  in  1864  $85,607.39. 
Enlistments  continued  without  cessation  in  the  spring  of  1865  and 
unremitting  efforts  were  made  to  avert  a  draft.  Agents  were  em- 
ployed among  the  veteran  regiments  to  secure  re-enlistments  in  the 
field.  But  little  idea  of  the  labors  performed  by  the  selectmen  and 
the  recruiting  committee  can  be  conveyed  in  this  short  sketch,  nor 
can  it  now  be  comprehended  to  what  extent  a  dread  of  the  draft 
pervaded  the  whole  community. 

The  total  number  of  men  furnished  by  Taunton  upon  calls 
and  requisitions  for  troops,  including  159  men  assigned  in  the  navy, 
who  had  enlisted  before  quotas  were  thought  of  was  1,652,  at  a 
total  cost  of  $196,719.23.  The  citizens  contributed  $62,383.00, 
showing  a  net  cost  to  the  town  of  $134,336.23. 

No  sooner  had  the  war  closed  than  Taunton  prepared  to  pay 
its  war  debt,  which,  exclusive  of  assets,  was  at  the  close  of  the  war 
$11 2,000.  Under  the  administration  of  Hon.  E.  H.  Bennett,  the  debt 
was  funded  on  a  term  of  ten  years,  bonds  were  issued  for  $100,000, 
and  the  notes  existing,  mostly  on  short  time,  were  paid,  and  a  sink- 
ing fund,  with  annual  instalments  to  be  raised  by  taxation  created. 
This  fund  was  so  well  invested,  that  in  seven  years  after  its  estab- 
lishment, or  in  1873,  during  the  administration  of  Hon.  Wm.  H. 
Fox,  the  last  assessment  was  made,  and  in  Hon.  Geo.  H.  Babbitt's 
administration  the  debt  was  paid. 

The  payments  for  bounties  during  1861  and  1862  were  of  more 
than  doubtful  legality,  yet  such  was  the  necessity  of  the  occasion, 
that  the  people  became  a  law  unto  themselves  and  loans  were  made 
and  the  proceeds  paid  from  the  treasury  with  little  sanction  or 
question  of  law.  But,  the  debt  was  long  since  paid  and  is  a  thing 
of  the  past. 

Before  closing,  I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  concerning  Co.  "  F,  " 
ist  Regiment,  our  present  sole  company  of  militia.  It  should  have 
the  abundant  support  of  the  community.  The  militia  is  the  school. 
Wm.  Schouler,  adjutant  general  of  Massachusetts  during  the  entire 
war,  says  that  Taunton  furnished  fifty-nine  commissioned  officers 
during  the  Rebellion.  When  you  consider  that  not  less  than 
twenty-five  of  this  number  were  graduates'  of  the  Taunton  Light 
Guard,  and  went  to  Fortress  Monroe,  with  that  Company,  you  can 
realize  the  advantage  of  maintaining  a  good  militia  company  in 
your  midst.  So,  let  Company  F  have  such  an  interest  with  you, 
that  its  stability  shall  not  be  questioned. 


THE     BANQUET.  I3I 

Taunton  in  the  great  Rebellion  did  her  whole  duty.  She  filled 
every  quota  and  had  sixty  three  men  to  spare  at  the  end  of  the  war. 
We  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  record. 

In  this  brief  recital  I  have  no  time  for  a  rehearsal  of  much 
that  would  interest  you.  It  all  seems  like  a  dream  and  were  it  not 
that  you  see  in  your  midst  those  organizations,  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  whose  members  bear  on  their  persons  honorable 
scars,  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  we  might  in  the  enjoyment  of  our 
great  prosperity,  forget  that  the  war  cloud  ever  hung  so  low  above 
us,  or  that  our  homes  were  draped  in  black  by  reason  of  sorrow 
for  our  young  men  who  died  on  the  field  of  battle. 

In  our  Historical  Hall  is  an  old  flag,  worn  to  fragments  almost, 
yet  about  whose  every  fold  lingers  a  tender  memory.  It  is  the  flag 
of  old  Company  "G"  which  first  of  all  went  from  your  midst.  On 
it  is  borne  this  legend:  '■'■  Fidelity  to  duty,  whenever  it  may  calL 
wherever  it  may  lead.  " 

So  may  it  always  be  with  our  own  ancient  town  and  in  time 
to  come  as  in  the  past  may  she  always  be  found  in  the  van  when 
duty  calls. 

The  Taunton  Lawyers : — One  only  needs  to  mention 
the  names  of  White,  Tillinghast,  Paine,  Parsons,  Merrick, 
Colby,  and  Morton,  to  show  how  illustrious  the  Taunton 
Bar  has  been.  In  speaking  of  the  Bar  of  to-day,  modesty 
compels  me  to  use  the  words  of  another: 

"The    fathers   sleep,    but    men    remain 
As    wise,    as    true,    as    brave   as   they ; 

Why    count    the    loss    and    not   the   gain? 
The   best    is   that    we  have  today." 

If  any  one  questions  the  aptness  of  this  quotation,  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  him  to  one  who  has  full  liberty  to  speak  for 
himself  and  his  brethren ;  the  Hon.  William  E.  Fuller, 
Judge  of  the  Probate  Court. 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.    W.    E.    FULLER. 

How  can  I  worthily  speak  of  that  profession  whose  history  in 
this  ancient  shire  town  includes  the  career  of  Samuel  White,  first 
lawyer  in  Bristol  County  and  by  character  and  attainments  fit  to 
be  the  first, — whose  fame  it  was  as  speaker  of  the  Massachusetts 
House  of  Representatives  during  the  Stamp  Act,  to  sign  the  circu- 
lar calling  the  first  Colonial  convention,  meeting  in  New  York  in 


132  QUARTER    MILLENNIAI.    CELEBRATION. 

1765;  of  Robert  Treat  Paine,  signer  of  the  Declaration, — attorney 
general  both  before  and  after  the  revolution,  member  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Council,  and  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court;  of  Daniel 
Leonard  who,  though  a  loyalist  in  the  revolution  and  becoming  a 
political  exile,  achieved  the  distinction  of  becoming  Chief  Justice 
in  a  foreign  land  ;  of  John  Mason  Williams,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  of  the  elder  Marcus  Morton,  Congress- 
man, Judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth ;  of  Francis  Baylies,  Congressman,  foreign  minister, 
scholar,  historian;  of  Chester  1.  Reed,  who,  though  dying  at 
middle  age,  had  achieved  high  distinction  at  the  bar,  and  had  filled 
the  positions  of  senator,  attorney  general,  and  Judge  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court;  and  (if  I  may  be  pardoned  for  mentioning  the  living) 
of  the  learned  doctors  Bennett  and  Ordronaux,  eminent  law  schol- 
ars and  authors  known  wherever  the  common  law  is  known. 

And  1  may  add  that  our  Bar  claims  a  certain  kinship  with, 
and  feels  a  just  pride  in  that  distinguished  son  of  Taunton,  whose 
hereditary  instinct  for  the  law,  whose  learning,  long  experience  and 
high  character  as  a  jurist  sheds  fresh  lustre  upon  a  name  long- 
noted  in  the  Old  Colony,  and  adds  new  honor  to  the  preeminent 
position  of  Chief  Justice  of  the  Commonwealth  ;  nor  let  me  close 
this  shining  roll  before  I  name  Henry  Goodwin,  practicing  here 
near  the  close  of  the  last  century,  and  later,  attorney  general  in  a 
neighboring  state;  David  Leonard  Barnes,  his  contemporary  who 
became  Judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island;  Seth  Padelford,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  Probate 
Judge  in  Bristol  County  and  widely  known  in  his  time  as  a  sound 
and  trustworthy  councillor;  and  it  may  be  of  interest  to  lawyers  to 
recall  that  he  was  first  president  of  the  first  Bar  Association  organ- 
ized in  the  Old  Colony,  including  in  its  membership  the  lawyers  of 
Plymouth,  Bristol  and  Barnstable;  properly  too  may  I  name  George 
T.  Davis,  in  practice  here  in  183 1  and  afterwards  a  Massachusetts 
Senator  and  a  representative  in  Congress  from  the  Greenfield  Dis- 
trict; Pliny  Merrick,  who  with  high  distinction  filled  in  turn  the 
ofifice  of  Judge  both  of  the  Common  Pleas  and  of  the  Supreme 
fudicial  Court;  Theophilus  Parsons,  son  of  the  great  Chief  Justice 
of  that  name,  a  law  partner  at  one  time  with  Francis  Baylies  and 
afterwards  Dane  Professor  in  the  Law  School  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity, and  well  known  as  lecturer  and  an  author  of  several  law  text 
books ;  H  .G  .  O.  Colby,  author  of  the  Massachusetts  Practice  and 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  and  Horatio  Pratt,  well  re- 
membered by  the  older  members  of  the  bar  as  a  formidable  antag- 
onist, and   for   a   time    Commonwealth's  Attorney  in  this  district. 


THE    BANQUET.  133 

Need  1  name  Henry  Williams,  whose  recent  death  we  deplore, 
a  man  of  refined  manners,  of  scholarly  tastes,  of  unswerving  rec- 
titude and  greatly  interested  in  our  local  history.  He  was  Vice 
President  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society  and  a  member  of 
the  committee  appointed  to  take  preliminary  measures  for  this  cele- 
bration. At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  the  senior  member  of 
the  Bristol  County  Bar.  Many  years  ago  he  represented  this  dis- 
trict during  two  terms  of  Congress.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
last  Massachusetts  State  Constitutional  Convention.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  of  Richard  Williams,  fore- 
most among  those  early  settlers  of  Cohannet  whom  we  this  day 
especially  honor. 

1  may  also  mention  that  Samuel  Sumner  Wilde,  who  for  thirty 
five  years  was  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Taunton.  He  studied  law  here  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Barnes  but  removed  to  the  State  of  Maine  before  entering  the 
Bar. 

And  what  citizen  of  Taunton  whose  memory  goes  back  to  a 
period  before  the  war  will  not  recall  the  venerable  form  of  Ansel m 
pjassett,  the  veteran  of  the  bar — who  was  in  active  practice  nearly 
fifty  seven  years,  covering  the  entire  official  terms  of  Chief  Jus- 
tices Parsons,  Sewall,  Parker  and  Shaw. 

The  former  lawyers  of  Taunton  : — in  response  to  the  call  on 
this  memorable  day  what  familiar  names  rise  up  in  the  memory. 

There  were  Breck  and  Burgess  son  of  Tristam,  Cushing  and 
Cobb  son  of  the  sturdy  old  General,  Dean,  Danforth  and  Ellis  and 
Hodges,  Sanford,  District  Attorney,  and  the  Sproats  in  three  gen- 
erations, hlling  the  office  of  Clerk  of  Courts  in  two,  Tillinghast  and 
Townsend  and  Vickery.  All  these  and  perhaps  others  whom  my 
memory  now  fails  to  summon  from  the  shades  of  the  past,  have  in 
their  day  and  generation  according  to  the  measure  of  their  ability 
and  honor  aided  in  administering  the  law  among  the  citizens  of 
Taunton. 

"The  Mayors'  Club": — Taunton  has  been  a  city  for 
twenty  four  years  btit  it  is  only  for  three  years  that  her 
mayors  have  belonged  to  a  convivial  crowd  called  the  Mayors' 
Club.  Many  of  that  club  we  are  glad  to  see  with  us  to-day, 
and  I  am  going  to  call  on  the  president  of  the  club  to  tell  us 
how  our  mayors  beha\  c  when  they  get  away  from  home.  I 
present  to  }ou  the  lion.  Hugh  O'Brien  of  Boston. 


134  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.    HUGH    o'bRIEN. 

Mr.  President : — 

I  consider  it  a  great  privilege  to  be  present  on  this  occasion, 
to  unite  with  you  in  celebrating  your  two  hundred  and  fiftieth 
anniversary,  and  to  congratulate  you  on  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  past  two  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

As  President  of  the  Mayors'  Club,  I  am  also  authorized  to  ex- 
tend to  you  the  heartiest  greetings  from  every  city  in  the  Common- 
wealth. We  all  rejoice  in  your  prosperity.  Quite  a  number  of  the 
mayors  are  present,  and  if  it  were  not  for  the  unfavorable  weather 
almost  every  city  in  the  Commonwealth  would  have  been  repre- 
sented by  her  chief  magistrate.  Your  toastmaster  alludes  to  the 
social  feature  of  the  Mayors'  Club.  On  this  point  I  will  merely 
say  that  we  are  guided  largely  by  the  temperance  principles  of 
your  excellent  chief  magistrate. 

The  city  of  Taunton  possesses  many  natural  advantages  for 
building  up  manufacturing  industries,  but  these  advantages  would 
not  amount  to  much  were  it  not  for  the  enterprise,  the  industry 
and  the  integrity  of  your  business  men.  In  Boston  we  feel  the  in- 
fluence of  this  enterprise.  One  of  the  finest  structures  in  Boston 
to-day,  the  Mason  Building,  was  erected  by  one  of  your  leading 
manufacturers  from  the  product  of  his  workshop  in  Taunton.  It 
was  the  pioneer  of  those  large  buildings  now  in  process  of  erec- 
tion and  in  contemplation,  and  has  added  largely  to  our  taxable 
valuation.  As  your  historian  very  truly  remarked,  in  his  very  able 
and  eloquent  address,  that  Taunton  was  largely  indebted  to  citi- 
zens of  Dorchester,  now  a  prominent  part  of  Boston,  for  its  early 
settlement,  it  is  very  proper  now  for  the  wealthy  citizens  of  Taun- 
ton to  help  us  build  up  the  leading  commercial  city  of  New 
England,  the  home  of  many  of  their  ancestors. 

These  centennial  celebrations  are  events  that  forcibly  recall 
the  past  landmarks  that  mark  our  progress.  It  was  only  a  few 
weeks  ago,  when,  in  the  great  city  of  New  York,  we  celebrated  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  inauguration  of  President  \\'ash- 
ington.  What  a  history  these  one  hundred  years  recall.  When 
Washington  was  inaugurated  President  in  1789,  the  population  of 
the  country  was  a  little  more  than  3,000,000  people.  Now,  after 
the  lapse  of  one  hundred  years  our  population  is  about  65,000,000 
people.  I  repeat  what  a  wonderful  history,  what  a  marvellous 
growth  and  prosperity!  I  should  feel  proud  to-day,  after  listening 
to  your  honorable  record  and  progress  for  the  past  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years,  if  I  could  call  myself  a  citizen  of  Taunton,  but  we 
must  all  feel  proud  that  we  are  citizens  of  this  great  Republic 
whose  growth  and  prosperity  have  been  so  wonderful. 


THE    BANQUET.  135 

'Wjii,  citizens  of  Taunton,  have  reached  the  venerable  age  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  years,  but  as  a  city  your  existence  only  goes 
back  twenty-four  years,  and  as  a  city  you  are  youthful  and  vigor- 
ous. Your  city  is  recognized  by  the  Mayors'  Club  as  one  of  the 
prominent  cities  of  the  Commonwealth,  your  municipal  govern- 
ment has  always  been  excellent,  your  schools  and  institutions  of 
learning,  your  charitable  institutions  and  your  homes  for  the  poor 
and  unfortunate  compare  favorably  with  any  other  city  in  the  state. 
We  hope  that  this  prosperity  will  continue  for  generations  to  come. 
I  am  aware  that  time  is  precious  on  these  centennial  celebrations 
and  will  detain  you  no  longer. 

The  Press  of  Taunton,  past  and  present : — You  may 
now  be  thinking  of  our  venerable  fellow  citizen  who  for 
forty  years,  as  a  faithful  and  efficient  journalist  gave  us  all 
the  daily  and  weekly  news  we  needed  to  know.  Perhaps  I 
ought  not  to  call  a  man  venerable  whose  step  is  still  as 
elastic  as  a  boy's,  but  it  will  have  to  be  admitted  that  for  about 
four  score  years  he  has  stood  erect  under  a  name  which,  very 
appropriately,  is  a  whole  encyclopedia  of  the  early  settlers — 
John  Williams  Dean  Hall.  But  Capt.  Hall  is  now  indulg- 
ing his  antiquarian  tastes  and  has  left  editorial  work  to 
younger  men.  So  upon  a  younger  man  I  will  call.  I  am 
happy  to  present  to  you  the  Hon.  William  Reed,  Jr.,  of  the 
Taunton  Daily  Gazette,  who  for  the  last  seventeen  years  has 
labored  with  gratifying  success  to  make  his  pen  mightier 
than  his — scissors. 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.     WILLIAM    REED,    JR. 

Mr.  Toasi/naster,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen : — 

He  who  brings  up  the  rear  of  an  oratorical  procession  has  as 
hard  a  place  as  the  last  straggler  of  an  army  corps.  Hence  the 
policy  of  brevity  to  escape  from  trouble  as  soon  as  possible.  It 
will  not  take  long  to  tell  the  story  of  the  press  of  the  early  days  of 
Taunton.  There  was  none.  The  town  had  no  newspaper  from 
1639  to  1820 — a  period  of  181  years.  The  seaport  settlements, 
with  their  varied  mercantile  interests,  their  men  who  were  like 
those  old  Athenians — continually  asking  after  some  new  thing — 
learned  the  value  of  ink  and  paper  much  sooner  than  the  farmers 


136  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

of  the  interior.  The  people  of  Taunton,  like  most  of  the  rural 
neighborhoods,  were  content  to  depend  upon  Boston  and  Newport 
for  glimpses  of  the  outside  world,  and  upon  each  other  for  the 
gossip  of  the  village  exchanged  at  the  church  door  or  the  country 
store.  In  1820  the  lirst  weekly  newspaper  was  born,  and  it  still 
lives  in  the  Republican,  vigilant  and  prosperous.  In  1848  the 
first  daily  appeared — the  Gazette — and  that  paper  can  speak  for 
itself  to-day  much  better  than  I  can  speak  for  it.  Journalism  once 
introduced  became  firmly  rooted.  Every  appliance  to  expedite  or 
lighten  labor,  gather  or  disseminate  the  news,  was  promptly 
adopted.  The  press  grew  with  the  town,  and  it  can  be  safely  said 
that  the  newspaper  offices  of  Taunton  are  as  well  equipped 
to-day  and  as  prompt  to  serve  the  public  as  those  of  any  other 
provincial  city  of  New  England.  That  the  press  of  Taunton  will 
ever  be  ready  to  mirror  the  record  of  the  day  1  can  with  assurance 
predict.  That  it  will  be  the  mainstay  of  the  orator  of  the  next 
centennial  celebration  is  certain,  and  by  its  industry  he  will  have  a 
far  easier  time  in  groping  among  the  shadows  of  the  past  than  the 
eloquent  gentleman  who  has  done  that  work  for  us  to-day.  The 
press  of  the  past  and  the  present  has  been  devoted  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  city.  There  will  be  no  falling  off  in  the  efforts  of 
the  press  of  the  future.     It  will  go  on  from  strength  to  strength. 

His  Excellency,  Governor  Herbert  W.  Ladd,  of  Rhode 
Island,  being  present,  witli  his  .Staff,  was  prepared  to  re- 
spond for  Rhode  Island,  as  follows  : — 

This  great  anniversary,  which  we  are  celebrating,  has  more 
than  a  passing  interest  for  me,  for  although  the  neighboring  state 
of  Rhode  Island  has  adopted  me,  fostered  and  kindly  invested  me 
with  honors  far  beyond  my  merits,  I  cannot  forget  that  I  am  a 
Bristol  County  boy;  that  in  the  adjacent  city  of  New  Bedford  I 
was  born,  reared  and  learned  what  it  is  to  be  an  American  citizen. 

When  I  received  the  invitation  to  participate  in  these  festivi- 
ties with  you,  a  pardonable  feeling  of  pride  took  possession  of  me, 
and  I  looked  forward  with  great  pleasure  to  this  visit  to  the  old 
town  of  my  youthful  associations,  which  has  a  place  of  warm  af- 
fection in  my  heart,  and  where  I  spent  many  pleasant  hours.  In 
reviewing  its  history,  the  wonderful  power  of  endurance  of  the 
men  and  women  at  the  time  of  its  settlement  is  most  forcibly 
brought  to  my  mind.  From  all  stations  in  life  they  came,  from  the 
daughter  of  a  nobleman  to  the  honest  yeoman. 

Just  three  years  ago  the  good  old  City  of  Providence  from 
which  I  came  to-day,  celebrated  her  250th  anniversary  with  similar 


THE    15Ai\QUET.  137 

rejoicings  and  witiiout  any  disloyalty  to  tiiat  dear  little  but  sUirdy 
State  into  which  I  have  had  the  honor  of  being  engrafted,  i  feel 
to-day  the  same  pride  that  I  felt  on  that  occasion.  I  was  proud  of 
ancient  Providence  with  her  grand  history  of  progress  and  I  am 
proud  to-day  of  having  been  born  in  the  same  county  that  contains 
this  old  Taunton  of  historic  fame. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  in  behalf  of  Rhode  Island  to  extend  to 
Taunton  and  her  good  citizens  the  warmest  congratulations  on  this 
happy  event,  and  to  hope  that  the  prosperity  of  which  there  is  such 
abundant  evidence  present,  may  continue. 

The  business  and  social  relations  existing  between  the  people 
of  Bristol  County  and  Rhode  Island  are  exceedingly  close  and  in- 
timate. Rhode  Island  has  been  very  kind  to  the  sons  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Three  consecutive  Governors  were  born  in  the  Bay 
State,  two  of  them  in  this  Bristol  County.  There  is  my  good  friend 
Davis,  most  appropriately  called  "Honest  John  Davis"  who  was 
elected  to  the  highest  office  in  the  State  and  who  left  behind  him 
a  most  honorable  record.  He  w^as  born  in  Bristol  County.  Fol- 
lowing him  came  Hon.  Royal  C.  Taft  whom  many  of  you  know  and 
of  whose  faithful  service  the  people  of  Rhode  Island  are  still  talk- 
ing_  He  is  a  Massachusetts  man.  Last  as  I  have  said,  New  Bed- 
ford was  my  birthplace. 

You  cannot  give  too  great  honor  to  the  memory  of  those  who 
settled  this  town,  and  I  feel  assured  that  the  next  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  will  advance  Taunton  even  more  than  the  last  have 
done. 

Hon.  Elijah  A.  Morse,  Congressman  elect  from  the 
Second  Massachusetts  District,  was  a  guest  of  the  city  dur- 
ing the  Celebration.  He  was  prepared  to  respond  to  the 
toast, — "The  Congress  of  the  United  States,  "  had  the  time 
j)ermitted.  By  urgent  invitation  of  the  Committee,  he  ftu'n- 
ished  what  he  would  have  said,  as  folUnvs  : — 

I  feel  honored  by  being  invited  as  a  guest  upon  this  interest- 
ing occasion  ;  but  perhaps  the  emotion  and  inclination  uppermost 
in  all  our  hearts  to-day  w'ould  be  to  pause  amid  our  festivities  and 
let  fall  a  tear  of  sorrow  and  sympathy  with  the  sufferers  by  the 
sudden  and  appalling  providence  of  God  that  has  overtaken  a 
section  of  our  country.  We  cannot  understand  it.  but  we  will 
obey  the  command,  "  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God. "  and 
"'Shall  not  the  |udge  of  all  the  earth  do  right?" 


138  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

But,  fellow  citizens,  I  congratulate  you  upon  this  auspicious 
occasion,  and  in  answer  to  my  toast,  and  so  far  as  I  have  the  hon- 
or to  represent  Massachusetts  as  a  Member  of  Congress  from  the 
Second  District,  I  bring  you  salutations  of  the  nation  and  the 
Commonwealth. 

It  seems  almost  impossible  for  us  to  roll  back  the  tide  of  time 
for  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  and  realize,  in  the  language  of  an- 
other, that  "where  you  now  sit,  surrounded  by  all  that  adorns  and 
embellishes  civilized  life,  the  rank  thistle  nodded  in  the  wind  and 
the  wild  fox  dug  his  hole  unscared ;  beneath  the  same  moon  that 
now  shines  on  you  the  Indian  lover  wooed  his  dusky  mate,  and  here 
lived  and  loved  another  race  of  beings. " 

But  why  should  you  celebrate  this  day  ?  Why  should  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  Taunton  from  every  section,  from  every 
clime,  from  over  the  sea,  return  to  their  native  town  and  city,  .to 
the  home  of  their  fathers  ?  I  remember  to  have  read  the  reply  of 
an  Indian  chief,  a  copper  colored  son  of  the  forest,  to  the  demand 
of  a  United  States  Commissioner  that  he  and  his  people  should 
leave  their  lands  and  remove  to  a  distant  reservation.  The  Red 
man  pleaded,  in  pathetic  tone,  "that  in  this  valley  his  tribe  had 
lived  for  centuries ;  here  they  had  held  communion  with  the  Great 
Spirit;  they  heard  his  voice  in  the  thunder  and  in  the  rushing 
water;  they  saw  his  tears  in  the  rain  drops,  and  in  this  valley  the 
bones  of  their  fathers  were  buried.  "  You  can  at  least  plead  that 
here  the  bones  of  your  fathers  were  buried,  men  who  knew  no  fear 
but  the  fear  of  God. 

It  is  said,  that  the  sailors  of  Columbus  on  approaching  this 
shore  across  a  trackless  and  unknown  ocean,  detected  strange, 
spicy  and  sweet  odors  in  the  air.  They  were  still  prisoners  in 
their  little  ships,  nothing  but  the  boundless  ocean  in  sight,  shore- 
less, trackless,  but  they  knew  the  land  was  near. 

The  unknown  ocean  of  the  future  and  eternity  stretches  out 
before  you  to-day,  but  in  the  reminiscences  of  the  past  you  to-day 
recall  the  forms  and  faces  of  loved  ones  gone  on  before,  and  joy- 
ous anticipations  of  a  heavenly  reunion  are  wafted  to  you  from 
the  better  land.  Unseen  hands  are  beckoning  you  to  a  higher, 
nobler,  grander  manhood  and  womanhood.  "What  mean  ye  by 
these  stones?  "  In  answer,  I  repeat  a  remark  I  made  over  the  graves 
of  our  fallen  comrades  on  Memorial  evening,  in  yonder  hall.  The 
father  of  Hannibal  once  brought  his  son  into  the  presence  of  the 
Carlhagenian  army,  and  on  his  bended  knee  taught  him  to  swear 
eternal  hatred  to  the  Romans.  Let  us  bring  our  sons  and  daugh- 
ters to  this  Memorial  occasion,  and  pledge  ihem  anew  to  everlast- 
ing love  of  liberty,  of  our  free  institutions,  of  our  free  schools,  as 


THE    BANQUET.  139 

our  fathers  made  them,  and  everlasting  hatred  of  tyrants  and 
oligarchies. 

The  Apostle  Paul  on  his  journey  to  Rome  came  to  the  place 
of  Appii  Forum,  and  the  Three  Taverns,  and  it  is  recorded  the 
brethren  came  out  to  meet  him,  and  "he  thanked  God  and  took 
courage.  " 

Citizens  of  Taunton,  you  have  struck  the  Three  Taverns  and 
Appii  Forum  to-day  and  on  this  Two  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  An- 
niversary, as  you  review  the  past  and  anticipate  a  glorious  future, 
you  may  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

George  A.  Shove,  Esq.,  of  Dighton,  was  prepared  to 
respond  to  a  call  from  the  Toastmaster,  for  the  "  South 
Purchase,  "  as  follows  : — 

Mr.    Toastmaster: — 

I  should  prefer  that  a  person  more  accustomed  to  public 
speaking  than  myself  had  been  chosen  to  respond  to  this  toast. 

One  of  my  ancestors,  the  Rev.  George  Shove,  third  minister 
of  Taunton,  and  one  of  the  grantees  in  the  deeds  from  the  Sachem 
Philip  of  the  land  that  is  now  the  town  of  Dighton,  had  some 
reputation  for  eloquence  in  the  good  Old  Colony  days,  when,  as 
Wendell  Phillips  once  said,  the  air  was  black  with  sermons,  but 
his  mantle  as  an  orator  has  not  fallen  upon  myself. 

If  it  were  bleak  November  instead  of  early  June,  this  occasion 
would  remind  one  strongly  of  Thanksgiving  time,  when  the  child- 
ren, after  long  absence,  return  to  the  old  homestead  to  see  the 
folks  and  enjoy  a  good  dinner.  Dighton,  Berkley,  Raynham,  Nor- 
ton, Easton  and  Mansfield,  worthy  children  of  Taunton,  not  a 
black  sheep  among  them, — though  it  might  be  supposed  by  one 
who  took  all  this  bountiful  preparation  of  fatted  calves  and  other 
delicacies  to  be  solely  on  their  account,  that  they  were  long  lost 
prodigals,  over  whom  there  was  great  rejoicing, — are  all  here  to- 
day and  bring  their  congratulations  at  the  evidences  of  prosperity 
they  see  around  them. 

Of  the  many  things  for  which  Taunton  is  to  be  congratulated 
it  is  hardly  my  province  to  speak,  even  if  time  permitted,  but  I 
may  mention,  from  its  connection  with  this  celebration,  the  Old 
Colony  Historical  Society,  whose  headquarters  are  one  of  the  at- 
tractive resorts  of  the  city.  If  such  societies  had  been  common 
in  past  ages  history  would  be  a  more  satisfactory  study  than  it  is. 
Hardly  a  year  passes  in  which  some  of  our  long  fixed  beliefs,  dril- 
led into  us  at  school,  are  not   proved    to  be  either  false  or  apocry- 


140  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

phal,  SO  that  it  would  not  be  very  surprising  if  there  were  a  pre- 
vailing Pyrrhonism  in  regard  to  many  of  the  unassailable  facts  of 
history.  And  the  iconoclasts  are  still  at  work  smashing  our  idols. 
One  of  the  latest  assaults  of  these  gentry  is  upon  what  has  been 
considered  an  undoubted  historical  fact  for  many  generations. 
We  had  hardly  got  used  to  the  deposal  of  Cristoval  Colon  as  the 
hrst  discoverer  of  America,  and  the  installation  of  Leif  Ericsson, 
the  Norseman,  in  his  place,  when  now  comes  a  French  investigator 
who  proves,  at  least  to  his  own  satisfaction,  that  America  was  not 
named  for  Amerigo  Vespucci,  but  for  the  Amerique  mountains, 
and  that  Vespucci's  prenomen  was  not  Amerigo  but  Ai^ieligo. 

Will  there  be  any  such  doubt  in  the  distant  future  over  the 
prominent  events  of  to-day  as  there  is  now  over  those  of  the  rcr 
mote  past.  It  seems  impossible,  yet  it  may  be  that  in  that  far  off 
day  when  Macaulay's  New  Zealander  shall  be  seen  sitting  on  a 
broken  arch  of  London  Bridge  sketching  the  ruins  of  St.  Paul's, 
there  will  be  a  warm  controversy  somewhere  on  this  planet  over 
the  question  whether  it  was  Harrison  and  Morton,  or  some  other 
persons  who  were  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States  in  this  year  of  grace,   1889. 

The  main  points  in  the  history  of  Dighton  have  been  given  in 
Judge  Bennett's  able  address  and,  after  the  feast  of  good  things 
of  which  we  have  partaken,  you  would  hardly  thank  me  if  I 
brought  on  a  dish  of  dry  dates.  One  of  the  Schlegels,  I  do  not 
now  recall  which  of  the  cwo  philosophic  German  brothers  it  was, 
advanced  the  dictum  that  a  historian  should  be  a  prophet  looking 
backward.  We  are  all  historians,  in  a  certain  sense,  to-day,  and 
it  will  not  be  out  of  place  for  one  of  us,  instead  of  going  over  the 
past  to  use  the  other  prerogative  of  the  historian  and  take  a  brief 
look  into  what  the  future  probably  has  in  store. 

It  needs  no  special  gift  of  prophecy  to  believe  that  there  are 
persons  in  this  hall  who,  if  Taunton  encourages  her  manufacturing 
industries  as  she  ought,  will  see  within  her  corporate  limits  a  pop- 
ulation of  a  hundred  thousand  people.  Her  already  magnificent 
fleet  of  coasters  will  have  grown  with  her  growth  and  will,  perhaps, 
include  vessels  for  foreign  trade.  The  narrow,  shallow,  and  tor- 
tuous channel  up  to  the  enterprising  village  at  the  Weir,  which 
now  lets  out  her  larger  craft — her  inaccessibility  to  her  own  fleet 
reminding  one  of  the  jest  about  a  shipwreck  on  the  coast  of  Bohe- 
mia, an  analogue  to  which  would  be  a  shipwreck  on  the  coast  of 
Oklahoma — will,  long  before  the  time  we  are  considering,  if  it  is 
not  so  already,  be  totally  inadequate  tcj  the  needs  of  her  commer- 
cial mariife;  where,  then,  will  be  the  headquarters  of  her  maritime 
activity  .-'     It  will    inevitably  be  at  the  nearest  available  point  on 


THE    BANQUET.  I4T 

the  river,  whicli  is  at  Digliton,  wliere  it  nu<;ht  to  be  now.  Tlie 
channel,  at  that  place,  runs  for  nearly  two  miles  close  to  the  shore, 
forming  admirable  sites  for  spacious  wharves.  The  river  broadens 
into  a  lake-like  expanse;  there  is  a  fair  depth  of  water  now  and, 
with  a  little  outlay  for  dredging  at  two  or  three  points,  not  enough 
to  reduce  our  uncle's  surplus  to  any  alarming  extent,  there  would 
be  depth  sutificient  for  even  a  five  master,  like  the  Governor  Ames. 

It  is  understood  by  those  in  a  position  to  know  that  it  would 
not  be  very  difficult  to  induce  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Company 
to  remove  its  upper  bridge  and  find  a  way  to  Fall  River  and  New- 
port for  its  western  branch  by  way  of  the  Slade's  Ferry  bridge, 
which  would  leave  the  way  fairly  open  to  the  se?..  As  the  port  of 
entry  and  maritime  headquarters  of  Taunton  for  large  craft,  Weir 
Village  still  being  the  headquarters  for  smaller  vessels,  Dighton 
would  become  a  thriving  seaport  and  would  be  to  your  city  what 
Leith  is  to  Edinburgh  or  the  Piraeus  to  Athens.  Taunton  would  ex- 
tend its  avenues  of  residences  and  business  blocks  far  down  stream 
to  meet  more  than  halfway  its  great  need,  an  accessible  seaport  of 
its  own  close  at  hand.  Then  would  be  vindicated  the  judgment  of 
Capt.  Thomas  Coram,  founder  of  the  city  of  Halifax  and  of  the 
London  Foundling  Hospital,  who,  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago, 
came  over  from  England  and  set  up  large  shipyards  in  the  Taunton 
South  Purchase,  now  the  town  of  Dighton. 

Our  town  is  now  chietiy  noted  for  two  things — for  the  pro- 
duction of  that  luscious  fruit,  of  which  a  quaint  English  writer  made 
the  oft  quoted  remark  that  ''doubtless  God  could  have  made  a 
better  berry  but  doubtless  God  never  did,"  and  for  having  its  name 
connected  with  that  inscribed  monolith,  or  bowlder,  which  lies,  half 
buried  in  the  mud  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river,  which  has  so 
long  been  a  bone  of  contention  to  archaeologists,  and  the  rudelv 
drawn  characters  on  the  face  of  which  are  so  obscure  and  indeter- 
minate that,  with  a  little  aid  from  the  imagination,  they  may  be 
made  to  support  almost  any  theory  as  to  their  genesis. 

When  the  changes  that  I  have  briefly  touched  upon — which  is 
all  that  can  be  done  in  the  few  minutes  allowed  for  this  post-pran- 
dial talk — shall  have  been  brought  about  by  Father  Time's  whirli- 
gig, and  that  day  may  not  be  very  distant,  our  town  will  be  noted 
among  other  things,  for  the  man)- gallant  craft  which  will  arrive  at 
and  clear  from  its  wharves,  for  the  manufacturing  industries  which 
will  spring  up  in  connection  with  its  commerce,  and  for  the  hun- 
dreds of  handsome  villas  which  will  adorn  the  slopes  of  its  hills 
and  the  sides  of  its  shaded  avenues.  It  might,  indeed,  take  on 
such  a  boom  as  to  consider  itself  the  city  and  look  upon  Taunton 
only  as  a  suburb,   (though  I   trust  that   none  of  the  Tauntonians 


l4^        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

present  will  be  unduly  alarmed  at  the  suggestion,)  in  that  case  it 
could  say  to  its  parent  as  the  bumptious  youth,  "who  had  taken  his 
father  into  partnership,  said,  as  they  stood  admiring  their  new  sign 
with  its  legend  of  Timpkins  and  Father  in  large  letters,  "me  and 
you,  old  boy,  will  do  a  staving  business.  " 

I  will  close  by  offering  this  sentiment,  may  this  occasion  be  the 
beginning  of  a  closer  union,  socially  and  commercially,  between 
Taunton  and  her  river-child,  her  seaport  that  is  to  be,  the  pleasant, 
healthy  and  fertile  township  of  Dighton. 

Hon.  John  E.  Sanford  was  invited  to  speak  for  the 
mother-town  in  Old  England,  which  he  had  visited  but  de- 
clined. Also,  Hon.  Charles  A.  Reed,  being  called  on  to  re- 
spond for  the  General  Court,  in  both  branches  of  which  he 
had  served,  through  lack  of  time,  felt  obliged  to  decline. 

The  decorations  of  the  banqueting  hall  were  all  in  good 
taste  and  under  the  direction  of  the  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  decorations,  Alderman  Edward  H.  Temple.  The 
table  arrangements  were  successfully  carried  out  by  the  com- 
mittee on  banquet,  of  which  Alderman  Charles  S.  Anthony 
was  chairman.  Reeves'  American  Band  rendered  choice  se- 
lections during  the  progress  of  the  feast.  Too  much  cannot 
be  said  in  praise  of  the  Beethoven  Society,  which,  under  the 
leadership  of  Director  Soule,  both  in  the  morning  at  Music 
Hall  and  in  the  afternoon  at  the  banquet,  rendered  most  ex- 
cellent service.  This  Society  since  1847*  has  been  identified 
with  the  best  interests  of  music  in  Taunton  and  its  vicinity, 
having  on  its  roll  of  membership  such  names  as  Crandell, 
Sproat,  Hodges,  Tinkham,   Perry,   Dunbar,  Jackson,  Taylor, 

*In  an  interesting;  article,  supposed  to  be  by  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  in  the  Union 
(Jazette  and  Dcniocrat,  of  Taunton, , Ian.  29,  1874,  it  is  stated  "the  Beethoven  Society 
was  organizi'd  ill  1H21."  Aniony;  its  iiunnbeis  were  "Abieser  Dean,  Jotham  Colburn, 
I'.eii  j.  Seavcr,  .lames  aiuMViii.  A.  K.  Siiroat,  Tliouias  C.  Urown.  Dea.  Jazaniah  Sum- 
ner, Zeplianiah  I..  Hodges,  Klias  and  Nathan  Fislier,  Gen.  Cri)inwell  Washburn,  John 
W.  S<;abury,  Win.  B.  Craudoll,  Uic  liiiioiid  Dean.  Col.  Adonirani  Crane,  of  Berkley, 
Kllis  Hall,  Otis  and  CaU'li  S.  'W'ashbiii  ii,  ol  llayiihani,  Julia  Dean,  Nancy  Sproat, 
Abliy  ingell,  ICIiza  Seabnry,  Eleanor  Dean,  Mary  Shaw,  Nancy  Hall,  Polly  Hood. 
<-!ol.  S.  Fobes,  ol  I5ii(l;z;ewater,  was  Director,  Jothaui  Colburn,  instrumental  leadei', 
and  James  Sproat,  Sei-retary." 

Oliver  Shaw,  who  was  eminent  as  a  musician,  originated  in  Taunton.  The  First 
Beethoven,  afterward  taking  tlie  name  of  Mozart,  ceased  to  exist  and  the  Beethoven 
of  1847  was  virtually  a  n('\\'  organization. 


THE    HANOUET.  1 43 

Dean,  Soule,  Winch,  J^ricl<(ham,  Abbott,  Clemson,  Goss, 
Woodward,  Loverino;,  Rhodes,  Paige,  Cutler,  Hayman,  Mon- 
roe, Fuller,  Lord,  Totten,  Richards,  Reed,  Wood,  Fish, 
French,  and  hundreds  of  others  which  are  now  and  for  long 
years  have  been  associated  with  song  in  this  region.  The 
rehearsals  of  this  Society,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Zerrahn, 
largely  contribute  toward  the  success  of  the  autumnal  three 
days'  festival  of  the  South  Eastern  Massachusetts  Musical 
Association  ;  of  this  as  of  the  Beethoven  Society,  Mr.  Lean- 
der  Soule  is  an  active  member,  having  belonged  to  the  latter 
since  185 1,  and  been  a  large  part  of  the  time  its  director. 
Wm.  B.  Crandell  will  long  be  remembered  as  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  Beethoven  Society  in  its  re-organized  form  and  a 
great  promoter  of  music,  both  vocal  and  instrumental. 

Taunton  has  not  been  wanting  in  musical  composers 
since  Sumner  wrote  his  remarkable  Ode  on  Science  and  had 
it  sung  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  at  the  opening 
of  Bristol  Academy.  Our  recent  celebration  suggested  the 
compositions  which  are  to  be  found  on  the  following  pages. 
They  were  sung,  with  excellent  effect,  at  intervals  during  the 
progress  of  the  after-dinner  exercises. 

The  Anniversary  Ode  was  sung  by  the  following  quar- 
tette : — Mrs.  Cora  Elizabeth  Rhodes,  first  soprano ;  Miss 
Emily  Hayman,  second  soprano  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Lord,  tenor  ; 
Mr.  Arthur  Barton  Totten,  basso. 

The  Trio  was  rendered,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Soule, 
as  follows: — First  soprano,  Mrs.  Cora  Elizabeth  (Dyer) 
Rhodes,  Mrs.  Hannah  Fifield  Abbott,  Miss  Caroline  Thomas 
Cutler;  first  alto,  Mrs.  Abbie  Grinnell  (Barrell)  Goss,  Mrs. 
Helen  Otis  (Briggs)  Monroe,  Mrs.  Mary  Louise  (Park) 
Paige ;  second  alto.  Miss  Elizabeth  Speight  Cutler,  Miss 
Phnily  Hayman,  Mrs.  Martha  (Allen)  Hanson. 


FESTIVAL  ODE. 


"Words  by  Mrs.  Eleanor  S.  Deane. 


Music  by  George  W.  Dean. 


1.     Ye      cit    -    i  -  zens      of     Taun-ton,     Who     love     her     fair      re - 
J.  Tliey  founded  liomes  and  churches,     And  schools;  they  tilled  the 


-J A- 

-m- 


« «- 


d: 


=|--j^t^i:: 


:?S: 


nown,  (rive    hon  -  or      to     the  men    of  worth  Who  built  this  olden 
soil;  They  taught  their  sons  the  fear  of     (;od  ;  Tliey  lived  by  honest 


\ 


-J^LllX-- 


^^=F^ 


X-'~ 


B^&«^^EEfctEB: 


t: 


town.     The     first        ad  -  venturers  ne'er      for  -  get,     Nor    e'er 
toil.      The     Red      Men      of     the      for    -  est     wild   Were  broth 


or  -  net  Mic   few 
ci's     to     imr  siies, 


Who  l)raved  the  sav  -  age       wil  -  der  -  ness, 
Wcie        of  -  ten  lodged  be  -  neath  their  roofs 


-ia. 


S' 


-1 — I — \ — I H ^ — '  - 1 ^ — ' 


Whuse  hearts  were  strong  and    true, 
And    seat  -  ed        by      their  fires, 


N 


Who  braved  the    sav  -  age 
Wei'e       of  -  ten  lodged  be  - 


'-h- 


'm 


wil    -  der  -  ness 
neath  their  roofs, 

4t-         -c- 


Whose  hearts    were    strong      and       true. 
And      sea    -     ted        by  their      fires. 


Xr- 


:E^ 


.-^_ ^f- ^- 


1 


They  brought  from  "  Merrie  England" 

The  love  of  liberty, 
Were  loyal — but  not  England's  self 

Might  dare  oppress  the  free. 
Among  the  sisterhood  of  towns 

First  Freedom's  fiag  to  raise  ; 
For  honor,  conscience,  country,  law, 

Alert  in  later  days. 

4, 
Such  were  our  city's  founders  ; 

Such  have  tlieir  children  been  ; 
And  generous  deeds  and  peaceful  arts 

Still  keep  their  memory  green. 
We  cannot  name  them  in  our  song. 

But  cherish  in  our  heart, 
And  in  old  Taunton's  fair  renown 

Woidd  bear  a  filial  part. 


ANNIVERSARY  HYMN. 


"Words  by  Mrs.  Eleauor  S.  Deane.        Music  by  Annie  M.  (Soule)-Lewis, 


'H 


^—•- 


Kind  straii    -    j^ers   we 


wel  -  come  you,    To    tlie 


-i-P 


?5|==^=^ 


2.      And    wel    -     come    ye      com  -  rades    old,  Who  re 


U 


^---^--±=7-^-. 


One     house  -  hold    we     meet        to  -  day,  And  give 


:SJ=i$=>!=y: 


I ^-0 — 0 ^ 0 1- — 


j— 

scenes    of    our  fes  -  ti  -  val        day.  To     ban- quet,  song,  sto  - 


-b — I N N  — •- 

~\^-0 0 0 1— 


:S 


-•-^•-&- 


• 9. 0 0- 


turn     to     the  pla-ces  once     known,  With  thoughts  of    the    days 


-k 


EH: 


3 


=1= 


-JiN- 


-^ •-•- 


thanks  for  thefath-ers  of  old.        The  motli  -  ers   true,    lov 


^r 


:f:fcq 


jL^fTi    — 0 — 0iit\-r--^—ft — 0. — 0 ^ 


-0---0 — ^ — 0- 

-I — h— ^h" 


ry,    and    lay;  Good  wo-men,  brave  men    and       true.        Your 


— N Sr — i — K 1 i 1^^- 


-^-^—0- 


long  since  gone.  Friends  bet-ter  than    rubies  and      gold.         Your 


^=^:^- ^-U      ^ 

-*-  *      -0-    -^ 


m 


J^-I=q: 


sr  -w  -^     -0-  I^       -*••■*•■*• 

-#• 
ing,    yet    bold,     In    song    let  them  live        for        aye.  In 

(1.)' 


-2 m- 


:*_  ?Z3: 


•-# 


— r— p — 0 — ^ — »■ 


He^#-#- 


:ta=s= 


Iiauds  we  clasp  With  friendly  grasp;  As  in  glad-ness  of    soul  we 


=«!« 


liomes  of  yovith,  Of  love  and  truth.  Hold  the  hearts  that  never  grow 


:;2=:z 


^!?zd: 


13^: 


t^==Jt 


otliLT  ways,  .Men    in        la  -  ter  days  Have  as    faithful-ly  wrought  as 


-y- 


»-^— • 


=^ 


:U= 


H«— • 


i^- 


-(*— • 


y— y — M — to- 

t> — o ^ Ba- 


sing,       Your  hands  we    clasp  With  friendly        grasp;  As    in 


told,       Your  homes  of    youth,Of        love  and     truth.  Hold  the 


S 


:^= 


-^=t- 


i^izN 


they.  In      oth  -  er     ways,Men    in       la-ter  days,  Have  as 


-mJIfi ,_ 


s/ 

glad-ness      of        soul      we        sing. 


i 


:t:=[:=i5=ti=zi=z=J: 


While  our      riv   -  er 


:t!i=|2ii 


hearts  that  nev  -  er        grow      cold. 


While  our      riv  -  er 


■*■        -#        ^        TT*       *  -1^  -0-        -0-      ^ 


\ 


faith -ful  -  ly    wrought  as        they. 
{■2.) 


While  the    lit  -  tie 


^=^ 


0 * *_I=# 0 sJ 0 #— ^ -_H ^- 

sea  -  ward  rtow-eth;  Long  as         sum-mer's      bloom  is     seen, 


^x 


t^S: 


=|: 


E3 


3=? 


~l 1 0 — ^ 1 — ' l-j — I V 


=t 


sea  -  ward  How  -  eth,  Long    as        sea  -  son's    change  is     seen, 


=|: 


^^=X 


'^- 


:q: 


:^- 


Taun    -    ton  How  -  eth.  Wheels  re-volve      and    spin    -  dies  play. 


^-^ 


Welcome  to       old  Taun-ton Green.  In    heart  we' I'e  brothers;  Our 


ti\cn- 


X 


^ut 


__| , 1 1— 1^ 1 1 — ^ — n^ 1 1 1 r^ i ,_ 

-0-     -m-    -0-        -•■  [j-#  -•■•M         -•■-#■-#■••         ' 

Welcome    to       old     Taun-tonGreen.  For  aye  we're  brothers.  The 


i^aEs 


-^ — s- 


^ 


— I 1 '.- ■ 1 \-, i 1 1 ' 1 \—, hr K 1— 

♦    -^    i^  J    ^^:^^-*   -^     ^     ^     ^  tl^  ^      -^ 

Taun-ton   bids  good  com  -  ers  stay.  Then  let     us     ev  -  er     give 


/n 


:^; 


¥^ 


y — ^ 


f~-f--5 


. — = — ^- 


country      is  one;  Though  we  praise  our  father's        here.        Our 


— 6# 0 tf — • — 0 •—'-!• * *?• — ihf-^S.*—i-* • 


sons    of      the  free;  Where  the  woodland,  stream  and  mead,  Were 


^^  ^    3  «5  «^ 


iiilzzz::?^^: 


§^      5    ^      ^ 


:3^5 


thanks  to    our  God,  For    the  free-dom    of     our        laud,        For 
(3.) 


I^IP 


-  -• 1 1 ^ — H / — , 1 y !^ — 


nation's 


he -roes  all  arc  dear;  No  dream  of  re-nown  led  them 


tS 


::^=:S=:1: 


t^ 


53 


-^^^ 


haunts  where  the  wolf   anrl  bear  might  feed,  They  wrought  for  the  towns  yetto 


^^4-^-: 


&13-^ 


4 


^^ 


-#•-#■-#•  -^    -•■    ^      ^ 

men    of    worth  who  with  heart  and  hand,  For  right  and  for  truth  they  have 


«— •- 


-M> 


-*=i- 


SE 


Their     no  -  ble    names  Are    ours  and  fame's,  And  their 


H \ — ^ — 0 — 1 1 »-i-d ^- 

*—i-0 ^ 0 0 ^v^;^ •- 


--■t 


--> — s- 


be.        Their     hon  -  est   names   Are  ours  and  fame's,And  their 


^^- 


~t- 


'  -w  <F  ^  ^  ^    ^ 

stood.    Their    no  -  ble    names   Are  ours  and  fame's.  And  for 


:^=:g^— ^: 


-?-•- 


:t=r=-: 


deeds    are  our    her 


tage,     Their       no  -  ble    namesArc 


I 


^S 


>;=]: 


=«' 


iitzzitz^zV: 


faith      is  our    her 


tage,        Their  hon  -  est  names  Are 


^tfc 


::^=:i.=«: 


^?E^Ei 


s 


aye      in  our  songs       shall     live.        Their    no    -  ble  names  Are 


\ttJ ^-\ u ^ a <- 


-^t?*-#- 


m^^ 


ours  and  fame's;  And  their  deeds  are  our    lier  -  i     -    ta^e. 


ours  and  lame's;  And  tlieir  faith  is  our      her  -  i    -    tage. 


pEEi 


— H — ^ -N- 

— (■  — ?  >— t-  -ft 


^-^ 


-#-T-#- 


IJ 


\  -^  -^  -^     tj- 

ours  and   fame's;  And  for  aye     in      our     songs  shall  live. 


;       After  last  verse  onli/. 


^fc; 


« — 0 — • — #- 


3 


» — * — *- 


While  the      lit  -  tie        Taunton    flow  -  eth;  Wheels  re  -  volve  and 


:2: 


0 


=1==^ 


,   .    ,     ; ^ 1 ^^^— -I -f^ — ± 


-^ — ^- 
While  the      lit  -  tie    Taun  -  ton  flow  -  eth;  Wheels  re  -  volve  and 


S^ 


:tq: 


:l==:>i=4 


While  the      lit  -  tie    Taun  -  ton  flow  -  eth  ;  Wheels  revolve      and 


I 


E^^^— ^— H— hi 


:t: 


-SET^z 


:p: 


spin  -  dies  play,  Taun  -  ton    bids      good      com  -  ers     stay. 


:!2=: 


~-K 


spin  -  dies  play,  Taiui  -  ton        l>iils  good       coni  -  ers     stay. 


5;=q=i 


-^—-X 


'-X 


spin   -  dies  play,     Taun  -  ton    bids      i^ood  com    -   ers     stay. 
(5.) 


THE  BANQUET.  15  ^ 

INVITED    (;UESTS    UV    THE    C1T\'. 

Honjamin  Hanison.  President U.  S.  A.,  and  wite;  Levi  Parsons  Mor- 
ion, Vice  President,  U.  S.  A.,  and  wife;  Oliver  Ames,  Governor  of  Mas- 
sac-husetts,  and  Staff:  .lolm  Quincy  Adams  Brackett,  Lieut-Governor  of 
.Massachusetts:  Herliert  Warren  Ladd.  Governor  of  lUiode  Island,  and 
Staff:  Henry  Laurens  Dawes,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Massaeliusetts:  George 
Frisbie  Ploar,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Massachusetts:  Charles  Sturtevant 
llandall.  Representative  in  Congress  from  1st  Mass.  Dist. ;  Elijah  Adams 
Morse,  Representative  in  Congress  from  2d  Mass.  Dist.  •  vVrthur  Webster 
Tufts,  member  of  the  Governor's  Council,  Massachusetts;  Henry  Bailey 
Peirce,  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts:  Harris 
Cowdrey  Hartwell.  President  of  the  Massachusetts  Senate;  William 
Emerson  Barrett,  Speaker  of  the  Mass.  House  of  Representatives;  Mel- 
ville Weston  Fuller.  Chief  Justice  of  the  XJ.  S.  Supreme  Court;  Marcus 
Morton,  and  wife,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts: Lincoln  Flagg  Brigham.  Chief  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
Mass.:  Elliott  Sandford,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Utah: 
Hiram  Putnam  Harriman.  Judge  of  Probate,  Barnstable  County,  Mass.: 
Benjamin  Winslow  Harris,  Judge  of  Probate.  Plymouth  County  Mass.; 
(Jeorge  White,  Judge  of  Probate,  Norfolk  County,  Mass.:  Charles 
(iideon  Davis,  Judge  3d  Dist.  Court.  Plymouth  Mass. :  Simeon  Borden, 
Clerk  of  the  Courts,  Fall  River,  Mass. ;  Caleb  Benjftmin  Tillinghast, 
State  Librarian,  Boston,  Mass.;  Justin  Winsor,  Librarian,  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, Cambridge.  Mass. ;  John  Davis  Washburn,  U.  S.  Minister  to 
Switzerland:  Willi;iui  Thomas  Davis,  Trustee,  Pilgrim  Society,  Ply- 
mouth, Mass. ;  William  Seaver  Danforth.  Register  of  Deeds  and  Sec. 
Pilg.  Society,  Plymouth,  Mass.:  John  Ward  Dean,  Sec.  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Hist.  Genealogical   Society,  Boston,  Mass.;  Amos   Perry,  Sec.  and 

Librarian.  Rhode  Island  Hist.  Society,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Reuben  Al- 
d ridge  Guild.  Librarian,  Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  George 
Edward  Ellis.  Rev..  President,  Mass.  Historical  Society,  Boston,  Mass. : 
Charles  Henry  Payne,  Rev.,  Sec.  Board  of  Education,  M.  E.  church,  New 
York  city:  Henry  Martyn  Dexter,  Rev.,  New  Bedford  and  Boston.  Mass.: 
Phillips  Brooks.  Rev.,  Boston,  Mass.:  George  Edward  Street,  Rev.,  Exe- 
ter. New  Hampshire;  Richard  Salter  Storrs,  Rev.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
Rufus  Emery,  Rev.,  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas  James  Conaty,  Rev., 
Worcester,  Mass. :  Benjamin   Henry   Paddock,   Bishop,   Boston,  Mass. ; 

L'homas  Marsh  Clark,  Bishop,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Martin  Harkins,  Bishop. 
Providence.  R.  I.:  William  Aridrew  Leonard,  Bishop,  Gambler,  Ohio; 
Thomas  lIub]).Ti(l  Vaill,  Bishop,  Topeka,  Kansas:  Darius  Nash  Couch, 
General,  and  wife.  Xorwalk.  Conn.:  Ebenezer  Weaver  Peirce.  General, 
Freetown.  Mass. :  Charles  Jackson  Paine,  General,  Boston.  Mass. :  James 

Burrill    .Vngell.    President,    University,    Ann   Arbor.    Michigan:    John 


152  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Ordi-onaux,  I'rofcssor,  Columbia  College,  Now  York  city;  Daniel  tSiuith. 
Talcott,  Piofessor,  Emeritus,  Theological  Seminary,  Bangor,  Maine: 
William  Maxwell  Evarts,  IT.  S.  Senator  fi-om  New  York;  George  Ban- 
croft, Washington,  D.  C,  and  Newport,  R.  I.;  John  Grreenleaf  Whittier, 
Amosbury  and  Danvers,  Mass. ;  Robert  Charles  Winthrop,  Brooklinc  and 
Boston,  Mass. ;  John  Davis  Long,  Hingham  and  Boston,  Mass.;  Robert 
T)-eat  Paine,  Waltham  and  Boston,  Mass. ;  Charles  Francis  Adams, 
Quincy  and  Boston,  Mass. ;  Frederick  Lothrop  Ames,  North  Easton  and 
Boston,  Mass. ;  Samuel  Crocker  Cobb,  Taunton  and  Boston,  Mass. : 
Oliver  Prescott,  New  Bedford,  Mass. ;  Alexander  Hamilton  Rice,  Boston, 
Mass.;  George  Dexter  Robinson,  Chicopee,  Mass.;  William  Wallace 
Crapo,  New  Bedford,  Mass. ;  Robert  Thompson  Davis,  Fall  River,  Mass. ; 
Ebenezer  Rockwood  Hoar,  Concord,  Mass. ;  Moses  Gage  Leonard,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. ;  William  Henry  Leonard,  Newcastle,  N.  Y. ;  Joseph  Hartwcll 
Williams,  Augusta,  Maine;  James  Phinney  Baxter,  Portland,  Maine: 
Josiah  Hayden  Drummond,  Portland,  Maine;  Marquis  Fayette  King. 
Portland,  Maine;  John  Wilson  Smith,  Providence,  R.  I.;  Charles  Wood- 
bury Thrasher,  Springfield,  Missouri;  Llewellyn  Deane,  Washington,  I). 
C. ;  Thomas  Merriam  Stetson,  New  Bedford,  Mass. ;  John  Summerlicld 
Brayton,  Fall  River,  Mass.;  James  Madison  Morton,  Fall  River,  Mass.; 
Enoch  Pratt,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Matthew  Gault  Emery,  Washington,  D.  C. : 
Elisha  Clark  Leonard,  New  Bedford,  Mass.;  Alfred  Mason  Williams, 
Providence,  R.  I.;  Charles  Harrison  Tweed,  New  York  city;  William 
Dexter  Marvel,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Charles  Deane,  Cambridge,  Mass. ; 
George  Augustus  Crocker,  New  York  city;  Chester  Allyne  Reed,  North 
Attleboro',  Mass.;  James  Heron  Crosman,  New  York  city;  William 
Thomas  Crandell,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Niels  Arnzen,  Fall  River,  Mass.; 
Curtis  Guild,  and  wife,  Boston,  Mass.;  Stephen  Holbrook  Rhodes,  Bos- 
ton, Mass. ;  Samuel  Leonard  Crocker,  Naples,  Italy;  Arthur  Kinglakc, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  County  of  Somerset,  Taunton,  England;  John  Mar- 
shall, Taunton,  Somersetshire,  England;  Wilfred  George  Marshall, 
Taunton,  Somersetshire,  England;  Edwin  Sloper,  Taunton,  Somerset- 
shire, England ;  Mayor  and  Corporation,  Taunton  Borough,  Somerset- 
shire, England ;  Henry  Rodney  Barker,  Mayor,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Almon 
Kent  Goodwin,  Mayor,  Pawtuckct,  R.  L  ;  Henry  V.  A.  Joslin,  City  Clerk. 
Providence,  R.  I. ;  Cyrenius  A.  Newcomb,  Detroit,  Michigan. 
Members  of  the  Mdsmrhu.'^etls   Muyorx.''   Club,    Present  or  Past  Mayors  of 

Cities: — 

Thomas  N.  Hart,  Hugh  O'Brien,  Boston;  Samuel  Winslow,  Worces- 
ter; Charles  D.  Palmer,  James  C.  Abbott,  Lowell;  James  F.  Jack.son, 
John  W.  Cummings,  Fall  River;  Henry  H.  Gilmore,  William  E.  Russell, 
Cambridge;  Alvan  E.  Mack,  Alexander  B.  Bruce,  Lawrence;  Asa  T. 
Ncwhall,  George  D.  Hart,  Lynn;  Edward  S.  Bradford,  Elisha  Burr  May- 
nard,  Springfield;  John   M.    Raymond,   Salem;  Walter  Clili'ord,  Morgan 


THE    BANQUET.  153 

Uotcli,  New  Bedford;  Charles  G.  Pope,  Mark  F.  Burns,  .Somervillc: 
Artluir  B.  Cliamplin,  George  E.  Mitchell,  Chelsea;  Jeremiali  F.  Sullivan, 
.lames  E.  Delaney,  Ilolyoke;  William  W.  French,  David  I.  Ilobinson, 
Gloucester;  Frederick  G.  Richards,  Geori^e  H.  Carleton,  Joseph  H. 
Sheldon,  Haverhill;  J.  Wesley  Kimball,  Heman  M.  Burr,  Newton;  Al- 
bert C.  Titeomb,  J.  Otis  AVinckley,  Newburyport;  Jeremiah  Brown. 
Arthur  Gaylord  Hill,  Northampton;  Joseph  F.  Wisgin,  Marcellus  Cog- 
<jan.  Maiden;  Eli  Culley,  Frederick  Fosdick,  Fitchburg;  Albert  R. 
Wade,  John  J.  Whipple,  Brockton;  Henry  N.  Fisher,  Waltham;  Charles 
H.  Porter,  Quincy;  Edward  F.  Johnson,  Woburn. 

Giles  Luther  Leach,  Vice  Pres.  of  Day,  Berkley,  Mass. ;  Rollin  H.  Bab 
bitt.  Representative  in  House  of  Rep.  from  Berkley;  Calvin  T.  Crane. 
Charles  F.  Paul,  Gideon  H.  Babbitt,  Selectmen,  Berkley,  Mass;  Herbert 
A.  Dean,  Thomas  P.  Paul,  Committee  on  Celebration,  Berkley,  Mass. 

George  Ethelbert  Gooding,  Vice  Pres.  of  Day,  Dighton,  Mass. ;  Jere- 
miah P.  Edson,  James  E.  Macker,  Charles  A.  Rose,  Selectmen,  Dighton, 
Mass. ;  Whitman  Chase,  Alfred  Wood  Paul,  George  A.  Shove,  Committee 
<>u  Celebration,  Dighton,  Mass. 

Oakes  A.  Ames,  Vice  Pres.  of  Day,  Easton,  Mass.;  Hiram  Williams 
George  Copeland,  Henry  W.  Heath,  Selectmen,  Easton,  Mass. ;  William 
L.  Chaffin,  Edward  Belcher  Hayward,  Committee  on  Celebration,  Eas- 
ton, Mass. 

Erastus  Maltby  Reed,  Vice  Pres.  of  Day,  Mansfield,  Mass. ;  Benjamin 
K.  Flint,  Valorus  B.  Hodges,  Seth  Carroll  Shepard,  Selectmen,  Mansheld. 
Mass.;  Elkanah  Hall,  John  W.  Rogers,  William  B.  Rogerson,  Commit- 
tee on  Celebration,  Mansfield,  Mass. 

Austin  Messinger,  Vice  Pres.  of  Day,  Norton,  Mass. ;  Charles 
Tower  Oldfield,  Charles  Henry  Makepeace,  Oren  E.  Walker,  Selectmen, 
Norton,  Mass. ;  Samuel  A.  Chapin,  Isaac  T.  Braman,  George  H.  Talbot, 
Committee  on  Celebration,  Norton,  Mass. 

Nathan  W.  Shaw,  Vice  Pres.  of  Day,  Raynham,  Mass. ;  Stephen  R. 
Lincoln,  Thomas  B.  Johnson,  Elijah  E.  Williams,  Selectmen,  Raynham, 
Mass. ;  Damon  D.  White,  Joseph  W.  White,  Jesse  King,  Soranus  W. 
Hall,  Charles  T.  Robinson,  Edward  F.  Leonard,  Alexis  C.  Dean,  Joseph 
R.  Presho,  Elwyn  S.  Harlow,  Cyrus  Leonard,  2d,  Charles  B.  Gardiner, 
Charles  H.  Lewis,  Sidney  K.  B.  Perkins,  Edward  B.  Wilbur,  David  G. 
Dean,  Edward  B.  King,  Committee  on  Celebration,  Raynham,  Mass. 

Mrs.  Susan  Tillinghast  fMorton)  Kimball,  Boston  Mass. ;  Mrs.  Lydia 
(Morton)  Lee,  Moline,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Eliza  Baylies  (Chapin)  Wheaton,  Nor- 
ton, Mass.;  Mrs.  Harriet  Little  (Chase)  Pulsifer,  Auburn,  Maine:  Mrs. 
Leonice  Marston  (Sampson)  31oulton,  Roslyu,  N.  Y. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann 
(Pease)  Wadsworth,  Auburn,  N.  Y. 


154  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  iM'cccding  list  contains  only  the  names  of  guests 
of  the  city  from  abroad.  To  past  mayors  of  the  city  and 
other  residents  of  Taunton  the  courtesy  was  extended  but 
their  names  are  not  included.  A  larger  part  of  our  guests 
honored  the  occasion  with  their  presence.  A  few  excused 
their  absence  with  such  words  of  interest  in  our  celebration 
as  should  be  }nit  on  record  : — 

[Letter  from  Lieut.- Go veiiKir  Brackett.] 

Pleasant  St.,  Aklington,  Juxk  2,  1S8U. 
liev.   S.  Hopkins  Emcri/, 

Dkai!  .Sir: — I  regret  very  imich  that  by  reason  of  illness,  which  eon- 
iines  me  to  my  house,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  attend  the  eelebration  at 
Taunton  on  Tuesday,  the  kind  invitation  to  which  I  accepted  several 
weeks  ago. 

Very  truly  yours, 

J.    Q.    A.    BliACKETT. 

[Letter  Iroiii  U.  S.  Senator  Dawcs.J 

PiTTSFiELD,  Mass.,  May  ol,  18S!». 
Brvj.  S.  Iluiik'niff  Eiitcnj,  Sccn'hir(i,  Commiftea  oh  Iiivitntionx.  Tdniitoii. 
Mass. 
Ukak  .Silt: — 1  am  in  receipt  of  an  invitation,  for  which  I  tender  my 
cordial  thanks,  to  become  a  guest  of  the  city  of  Taunton  on  the  4th  and 
."^th  days  of  June  and  particijiate  in  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundred 
and  lifticth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton.  It  would  b(!  a 
pleasure  indeed  to  accept  your  hosi)itality,  to  visit  the  city  for  whose 
river  I  have  voted  so  many  appropriations,  to  tread  the  turf  of  the  fam- 
ous Taunton  Green,  to  lay  some  humble  tribute  at  the  tomb  of  the  ven- 
erated Elizabeth  Poole,  and  to  be  a  witness  of  the  marvellously  thrifty 
growth  which  has  sprung  from  the  seed  which  she  sowed.  It  is  witli 
great  regret,  therefore,  that  I  find  myself  compelled  by  the  pressure  of 
my  engagements  to  deny  myself  this  pleasure.  Accept,  my  dear  sir, 
aiul  extend  to  your  associates  on  the  committee,  my  grateful  acknowl- 
edgements of  your  courtesy  and  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  the 
ceremonies  of  this  notable  occasion. 

Very  truly  yours, 

H.  L.  Dawks. 

[Letter  Innii  V.  S.  Sciiatnr  Hoar.] 

WoitcK.sTEiJ,  Mass.,  Ai'itii.  2!),  LSS'.t. 
Mv   Deai;  ,Sik: — I  regret  that  I  shall  be  absent  from  Massachusetts 
when  the  celebration  of  the  2.")()tli  Anniversary  of  the  Founding  of  Taun- 
ton will  take  place.     Otherwise  it  woidd  give  me  great  pleasure  indeed 
to  take  part  in  an  occasion  of  so  much  interest. 

1  am,  faithfully  yours. 
To  Jtcr.   ti.   llDpLins   Kmcnj.  Geo.   F.   IloAi;. 


THE    BANQUET.  I  55 

[Lt'ttcr  Iroui  Chief  Justice  Fuller.] 

Washington,  D.  C,  M.vy  25,  188U. 
Mrs.Ki-s.  lih/iHrd  lltuini  Ifall,  Samuel  Hopkins  E  mar  ij,  William  E.  Fuller, 
.In/ill  W.  I),  ilull,  llciiry  M.  Loverinrf,  Gcorc/e  Alherl  Waxlibiini. 
(iKNTLEMK.v:— It  would  s'ivo  me  great  pleasuic  to  accept  yoiu'  invi- 
tation to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  attendant  upon  the  celebration 
of  the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton, 
but  my  engagements  are  such  that  I  find  myself,  to  my  regret,  entirely 
unable  to  do  so.  i  ,    ,- 

Pray  accept  my  acknowledgments  of  your  courtesy  and  believe  me. 

Very  truly  yours, 

ar.  w.  FuLLEu. 

[Letter  from  Chief  Justice  Brigham.] 

New  BEDFoiti),  May  ol,  188'J. 

Iter.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Seeretarij  of  the  Comiiiittrr  on  LivihUiinis  to  the 

Cclebnaioii  of  the  Tioo  llitndrcl   dud   Fiftieth  Annirer.sari/  of  the 

found in[i  of  Taunton. 

Mv  Deau  .Sir:— My  delay  in   replying   to  the  gracious  invitation  of 

the  committee  whose  representative  you  are,  has  been  due  to  the  hope 

that  1  might  be  able  to  attend  and   participate  in  the  celebration  of  the 

2oUth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton. 

1  now  lind  that  official  duties  will  constrain  me  to  be  here,  on  the 
days  of  your  celebration,  to  my  great  disappointment. 

Yours  truly, 

Lincoln  F.  Bkigham. 

[Letter  from  Judge  Uavis.] 

Plymouth,  May  u,  188'.». 

Deai:  Jiiu:— I  regret  that  the  state  of  my  health  will  prevent  nie 
from  undergoing  the  fatigue  of  enjoying  your  anniversary  services  on 
the  4th  and  5th  of  June,  which  as  a  native  of  the  Old  Colony,  I  should 
be  glad  to  attend.  Old  Plymouth  is  connected  with  Taunton  by  many 
interesting  associations,  historically,  socially,  and  in  business  and  law. 

Yours  truly. 
Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Enwrij,  Serretanj.  Chas    G.   Davis. 

[Letter  from  State  Liltrariiiii  Tilliuyhast.] 

Boston,  May  :]!,  l.s8'J. 
Ber.  s.  Hopkins  Emenj,  Serretanj  of  the  Committee  on  Invitations. 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  am  honored  and  obliged  by  the  kind  invitation  of 
your  committee  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  at  the  celebration  of 
the  quarter  millennial  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton,  but  re- 
gret that  I  shall  be  obliged  to  forego  the  pleasure  of  its  acceptance. 

For  two  centuries  and  a  half  the  people  of  Taunton  have  illustrated 
the  development  of  the  intelligence,  the  virtue  and  the  patriotism  which 
unite  to  form  the  basis  of  New  England  civilization.  It  is  well  to  honor 
the  founders,  as  well  as  their  descendants  who  have  cherished,  defended 
and  preserved  the  independence  and  purity  of  its  civil  life,  including  the 


T56 


QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELERRATION. 


loii^  roll  of  Uvv  sons,  eminent  for  their  ability  and  their  hif^h  ideal  of 
]>nblic  service,  which  the  nmnicipality  has  furnished  to  the  Colony,  the 
I'rovince  and  the  Commonwealth. 

Yours  very  truly. 

C.    B.    TlLLlNGIIAST. 

[Letter  I'roiii  the  Secretary  of  the  New  Eu,i;lan<l  Historic  Genealogical  Society.    Soci- 
ety's House,  18  Somerset  Street,  Boston,  Mass.] 

Tuesday,  May  7,  1889. 
/I'ry.  S.  Ilojiklu.s  tJiiicri/,  Scrrcta ri/  of  the  (J(i)iiinittec  on  hivitnllona. 

Deak  811;: — I  thank  the  Committee  for  their  invitation  to  attend  the 
Quarter  Millenary  Celebration  of  the  Foundinj;-  of  Taunton.  1  am  sorry 
to  say  that  1  shall  not  be  able  to  accept  it;  for  it  would  ^ivc  me  great 
pleasure  to  be  present  on  the  occasion  and  assist  in  doing  honor  to  the 
memory  of  those  who  have  aided  in  raising  your  city  to  its  present  im- 
portant place  among  the  cities  of  New  England;  and  particularly  to  the 
hardy  men  and  courageous  women  who,  two  centuries  and  a  half  ago, 
made  a  home  in  this  New  World  wilderness,  and  named  it  Taunton  "in 
lionor  and  love,  "  to  use  their  own  words,  to  their  "  dear  native  country." 
Respectfully  yours, 

John  Wakd  Dean. 

[Letter  from  Kev.  C.  H.  I'ayne  ] 

New  YoitK,  May  4,  1889. 

Tv  Ricluird  llcnni   Hull  (iml  otlicrs,   <  'iiiaiidttcc  on   Inritatioiin,   Tdiiniuii, 
Mass. 

Gentlemkn: — 1  have  the  honor  of  acknowledging  the  receipt  of 
your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
Taunton  on  the  4th  and  5th  of  June  next.  I  deeply  regiet  that  i)revious 
engagements  will  ])revent  my  being  present  on  that  interesting  occasion. 

I  had  the  honor  to  be  born  in  the  goodly  town  of  Taunton,  and  bear 
a  name  honored  in  its  annals  and  distinguished  throughout  our  entire 
nation.  1  have  always  been  proud  of  my  birth  place,  and  it  would  give 
me  unfeigned  pleasure  to  participate  in  the  interesting  exercises  of  the 
occasion  to  which  you  invite  me. 

Please  accept  my  thanks  for  the  invitation,  and  my  cordial  good 
wishes  and  desire  that  the  day  may  be  as  full  of  interest  and  good  cheer 
as  your  highest  anticipations  compass.  Witli  sentiments  of  personal 
esteem,  I  am, 

Sincerely  yours, 

C.  U.  Payne. 

[Letter  Iroiii  liev.  I'liillijis  Brooks,] 

Mr.  Phillips  Brooks  acknowledges  with  many  thanks  the  invitation 
Avliich  he  has  received  to  be  present  at  the  2.jOth  Anniversary  of  the  City 
of  Taunton;  and  regrets  exceedingly  that  he  cannot  accept  it. 
Boston,  May  27,1889. 

fLetter  I'roin  Rev.  R.  S.  Storrs.] 

liiiOOKLYN,  N.  Y  ,  May  M,  1889. 
liEV.   and  DKAii  Sik: — 1  am  honored  by  the  invitation  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Celebration  of  the  «.'50th  Anniversary  of  the  Founding  of 


THE    BANQUET.  I  57 

Taunton — an  invitation  so  kindly  conimnnicated  by  yon — and  am  hearti- 
ly sorry  that  it  is  not  in  my  ]u)\ver  to  accept  it.  My  on,na<;enients  are  such 
for  the  weeks  intervenini;'  between  this  and  the  last  of  June  as  to  make 
it  imi)ossible  for  me  to  be  at  Taunton  on  the  days  mimed,  oi'  on  eitlier 
of  them.  I  remembei-  Taunton  very  well  as  it  was  fitly  six  years  ago, 
when  as  a  lad  I  was  there  for  a  day  or  two.  I  have  rarely  seen  it  since, 
but  the  early  impression  of  its  beauty  and  iirosjierity  is  still  strong-  with 
me,  and  I  have  rejoiced  to  know  from  others  tliat  its  promise  of  that  day 
has  been  more  than  fulfilled  in  its  subseiiuent  charming,  busy,  and 
wealthy  expansion.  I  never  forget,  and  shall  never  foi-get,  my  early 
associations  with  the  towns  and  villages  of  Eastern  ^lassacluisetts;  and 
every  anniversary  celebration  in  any  of  them,  of  which  T  know,  gives  a 
fresh  impulse  to  my  backward-looking  thoughts  and  love. 

Please  to  present  to  the  Committee  my  thanks  and  my  regrets,  and 
believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  with  great  regard. 

Ever  faithfully  yours. 
The  RrviTOid  S.   Tlophiiis  Eiucry.  R.  S.  Stokrs. 

(Letter  I'rmu  Kov.  Tlimuns  J.  Conaty.) 

Paris,  May  18,  lSSi». 
Tt<'i\  S.  IIo[)h-ins  Emery. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Will  you  kindly  assure  your  committee  of  the  very 
great  pleasure  given  me  by  .their  "Invitation,"  which  was  forwarded  to 
me  from  Worcester  and  which  I  received  here  yesterday.  As  I  have 
l)een  obliged  to  seek  relief  from  work  by  a  trip  abroad,  I  regret  that  I 
cannot  enjoy  the  privilege  of  returning  "  Home  "  as  a  .son  of  Taunton 
to  rejoice  with  our  good  old  city,  on  her  prosperous  length  of  days.  I 
am  very  grateful  to  your  committee  for  kindly  remembering  me  and  I 
beg  you  to  assure  them  that  though  distant  from  my  old  and  cherished 
home  during  those  days  of  rejoicing,  I  join  with  all  who  will  enjoy  her 
hospitality  in  wishing  to  our  goodly  city,  a  renewal  of  her  youth  and 
years  of  greater  prosperity  and  happiness  to  all  who  will  seek  shelter 
within  her  boundaries.  I  rejoice  with  you  and  regret  my  absence  fioni 
your  festivities. 

I  am  yours  respectfully, 

Thomas  J.  Conaty. 

(Letter  from  Bishop  Paddock.) 

Boston,  May  4,  1889. 
Thf  Rev.  S.  llopkinx  Emery,  Secretary,  etc.,  etc 

Dear  Sir: — It  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  be  present  at  the 
most  interesting  and  valuable  Historical  Commemoration  to  which  you 
do  me  the  honor  to  invite  me.  But  imperative  official  engagements  make 
it  impossible. 

1  am,  sir,  yours  sincerely, 

Ben.i.  H.  Paddock,  Bishop  of  Massachusetts. 

(Letter  from  Hishop  Clark.) 

Providence,  R.  I.,  April  27,  1889. 

My  Dear  Old  Friend: — I  would  like  to  look  upon  your  face  again 

and  wish  that  1  were  in  a  condition  to  accept  the  very  kind  invitation  of 

your  committee,  for  I  have  many  pleasant  recollections  of  Taunton,  but 


T$8  QUARTER    MlLLfiNNlAL    CELEBRATION. 

I  am  not  stronji'  enough  to  bear  the  fatigue  and  excitement  incident  to 
sucli  occasions.  Please  express  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  honor  T 
liave  received  from  the  authorities  of  your  beautiful  city,  and  be  sure 
that  I  have  not  forgotten  the  days  when  we  dwelt  together  in  Amherst. 
How  few  there  are  left,  who  started  with  us  in  the  race! 
Very  affectionately  yours, 

Thomas  M.  Clark. 

(Letter  from  Bishoji  Harkins.) 

Providence,  May  27,  1880. 

Rrv.  Dear  Sir: — The  kind  invitation  extended  to  me  by  the  Com- 
mitttee  in  charge  of  the  Celebration  of  the  2.50th  Anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  Tavtnton  has  been  received.  It  would  indeed  be  a  pleasure 
foi-  me  to  join  with  the  citizens  in  the  joyfitl  commemoration  of  this 
event;  and,  with  thanksgiving  for  the  blessings  of  so  many  years,  to 
wisli  to  the  city  every  kind  of  prosperity  in  the  years  to  come. 

But  a  previous  engagement  obliges  me  to  be  in  Boston  on  the  days 
appointed  for  your  celebration,  and  thus  renders  it  impossible  forme  to 
attend. 

With  grateful  recognition  of  your  kind  courtesy,  I  am, 
Yours  respectfully, 

Matthew  Harkins,  Bishop  of  Providence. 

(Letter  from  Bishop  Leonard,  .sometime  of  AVashington,  now  of  Ohio.) 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  20,  1880. 
Dkar  Dr.  Emery: — I  greatly  regret  that  I  cannot  be  present  at 
your  great  celebration  on  June  4th.  next.  But  since  I  wrote  last,  I  find 
that  on  that  evening  I  must  be  home  to  marry  Mr.  Justice  Gray,  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  to  Miss  Matthews — a  parishioner,  and  daughter  of  the 
late  Justice  Stanley  Matthews — I  am  much  disappointed  as  I  had  intend- 
ed being  with  you.  Please  express  my  profoimd  regrets  to  your  col- 
leagues, and  to  my  excellent  and  revered  friend,  Capt.  Hall. 

What  a  day  it  will  be  for  old  Taunton!  Shades  of  my  forefathers — 
how  it  would  rejoice  their  venerable  hearts! 

Faithfully, 

W.  A.  Leonard. 

(Letter  from  General  Concli.) 

NoRWALK,  Conn.,  May  7,  1880. 
^f)/  Bear  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery.  Secrrfnr//  of  ('ommltiec  on  Celfhrafion. 
etc.,  etc.,  Taunton.  Miifis. 
T  have  delayed  answering  the  honored  invitation  of  your  Committee 
luitil  this  time,  hoping  the  way  might  be  clear  for  me  to  be  present  upon 
so  interesting  an  event  in  the  history  of  Taunton,  but  am  now  sorry  to  .say 
that  T  sliall  not  be  able  to  join  my  friends  and  former  fellow-citizens  in 
its  2o()tli  Anniversary. 

iNFy  wife  desires  me  to  present  her  thanks  for  your  courtesy  to  her, 
with  regrets  that  she  will  not  be  able  to  attend  as  a  guest  of  the  city. 

Trusting  that  the  Celebration  will  b(>  successful,  and  with  many  kind 
wishes  for  its  participants. 

I  am.  very  truly. 

D.  N.  Couch. 


THE    BANOUF.T.  I  59 

(Letter  from  President  Angell.) 
Univehsity  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbok,  Aimml  2!t,  IHSU. 
My  Deai!  Sik: — I  beg  to  acknowiedue  my  indebtednt'ss  to  tlie  i-oni- 
inittee  for  the  courtesy  oi'  an  invitation  to  attend  tlie  2.")()tli  Anniversary 
of  the  founding'  of  Taunton. 

I  deeply  regret  tliat  my  engagements  will  prevent  me  from  accept- 
ing the  invitation.  The  story  of  few  of  the  old  New  England  towns  is  so 
interesting  and  important  as  that  of  Taunton.  As  (me  connected  by 
marriage  with  the  (Jasuells  of  Taunton,  I  have  ;i  personnl  interest  in  the 
celebration. 

Yours  truly. 
Rpv.  S.  Ilophhis  Enirrii.  'rtiiiutdii.  James  P..  Anoki.i.. 

(Letter  Irom   IMotessor  Talcott.) 

Bangoij.  Me..  June  1,  1880. 
To  tJie  Committee  nn  Inritatlnns.  Taunton.  Mass. 

Gentlemen: — Please  accept  ray  thanks  for  the  kind  invitation  sent 
me  to  be  present  at  your  approaching  celebration.  I  have  long  desired 
that  it  might  at  sonie  future  time  be  in  my  power  to  make  a  pilgrimage 
to  the  old  historic  city  of  Taunton,  and  the  more  especially  in  view  of 
tlie  fact  that  one  of  tlie  most  warmly  cherished  friends  of  my  youth, 
(although  my  junior  in  age,)  whose  name  it  is  pleasant  to  recognize 
among  your  number,  has  been  for  many  years  largely  identilied  with  the 
best  interests  of  your  community. 

The  programme  of  your  proposed  celebration  is  certainly  most  at- 
tractive, and  I  trust  that  the  weather  may  be  such  as  to  allow  of  its  being 
carried  out  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  spirit  which  has  planned  it,  and 
such  as  to  secure  to  the  multitudes  that  will  be  in  attendance,  an  ample 
measure  of  enjoyment  and  of  profit. 

P.e  assured,  Gentlemen,  that  it  is  with  no  ordinary  regret  that  1  feel 
myself  obliged  to  say  that  just  at  the  present  time,  peculiar  circum- 
stances forbid  me  to  be  absent  from  home. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  yours  with  high  consideration  and  respect, 

D.  S.  Talcott. 

(Letter  Irom  Hon.  Rot)ert  C.  Wintlirop.)      • 

Brookline,  Mass.,  May  21,  1889. 
Jfon.  B."H.  Hall'J'halniiiin,  Rev.  S.  H.  Emery,  Serretar!/. 

Gentlemen: — I  thank  you  and  your  associates  on  the  Committee, 
for  including  me  among  the  invited  guests  of  the  City  of  Taunton  for 
the  4th  and  5th  of  June  ne.Kt.  It  would  atford  me  great  pleasure  to  unite 
with  you  in  celebrating  the  -JSOth  Anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the 
most  ancient  town  of  iiristol  County,  and  in  recalling  the  memory  of  its 
Worthies,  from  the  days  of  Elizabeth  Pool  to  those  of  the  Baylies,  and 
dockers  whom  I  have  known  and  valued  personally.  But  1  dare 
not  contemplate  the  fatigues  of  such  an  occasion,  and  can  only  offer  you 
my  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  invitation,  with  my  sincere  regrets 
thaf  T  am  unable  to  accept  it. 

Believe  me.  Geutlemen,  resp'y  and  truly  yours, 

PiOBT.    C.    WlNTHROP. 


l60  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

(Letter  from  Hon.  John  D.Long'.) 

HiNGHAM,  Apk.,  27,  1889. 
My  Deak  Sir:— I  am  in  receipt  of  the  kind  invitation  of  the  city  of 
Taunton  to  the   celebration   of  its   2r)0th   Anniversary.     If  my  engage- 
ments will  j>ermit  I  shall  be  happy  to  attend,  but  I  fear  that  on  the  4th 
ami  nth  of  June  next,  T  shall  be  so  engaged  that  I  cannot  do  so. 
With  many  thanks  for  the  courtesy  I  am, 

Truly  yours, 
Erv.  S.  IfapJon^!  Empry.  John  D.  Lono. 

(Letter  from  Hon.  Alexander  H.  Rice.) 

Boston,  June  3,  1889. 
R.  II.  Ilall,  Esq.,  Chairman,  etc,  Taunton,  Mass. 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  extremely  regret  that  an  unexpected  engagement 
beyond  my  control,  compels  me  to  be  in  Boston  to-morrow  and  the  next 
day;  and  consequently  deprives  me  of  the  anticipated  pleasure  of  at- 
tending the  commemorative  festival  in  Taunton,  this  week. 

Believe  me  not  less  appreciative  of  the  courtesy  of  your  committee 
in  this  kind  invitation. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Alexander  H.  Rice. 

(Letter  from  Hon.  Ocoroc  1).  Kobinson.) 

Chicopee,  Mass.,  May  14,  1889. 
Bev.  S.  Hopkins  Empry,   Taunton  Mass. 

Dear  Sir; — I  am  under  great  obligations  for  the  honor  of  the  invi- 
tation in  behalf  of  the  City  of  Taunton  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies 
of  the  celebration  of  the  250th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  City, 
and  legret  to  say  in  reply  that  I  am  constrained,  by  reason  of  engage- 
ments which  1  cannot  avoid,  to  forego  the  pleasure  of  an  acceptance. 
Accept  my  sincere  wishes  for  the  highest  enjoyment  of  all  who  shall  be 
in  attendance  or  interested  in  the  event,  and  for  the  continued  pros- 
perity of  the  City  and  the  happiness  of  all  her  people. 

Yours  truly, 

Geo.  D.  Robinson. 

(Letter  from  Hon.  E.  Rookwood  Hoar.) 

Concord,  May  18,  1889. 
McKsvs.  Richard  Henry  Ilall,  Saiiiucl  Iloplrats  Emery  and  others,  Connirif- 
U'p  on  Invitations. 

Gentlemen: — I  am  much  honored  by  the  invitation  of  the  City  of 
Taunton  to  be  present  as  its  guest  and  participate  in  the  ceremonies  at 
the  celebration  of  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  fotniding  of  Taiuiton, 
on  the  4th  and  5tli  of  June  of  this  year,  and  regret  extremely  that  my 
state  of  health  will  mit  allow  me  to  accept  it. 

The  history  of  so  old  a  New  England  town,  and  the  memories  be- 
longing to  one  of  such  honorable  distinction  as  Taunton,  make  the 
occasion  one  of  great  interest;  and  especially  attractive  to  me,  not  only 
from  i)leasant  relations  to  some  of  your  citizens  in  days  gone  by,  but 
from  the  ])leasure  T  should  ex])ect   in   hearing   my  valued  friend,  Judge 


THE    BANQUET.  l6l 

Hennott,  who  is,  as  I  am  informed,  to  deliver  the  historical  address — 
and  ill  witiiessiiio'  the  <i,rowtli  and  prosperity  which  have  marked  the 
advance  of  the  beautiful  town  into  the  thriving  city. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  your  celebration, 

T  am.  Gentlemen,  very  respectfully  your  obliged  friend, 

E.  R.  HoAK. 

(Letter  from  ,Iohn  Wilson  Smith,  Esq.) 

Providence,  May  17,  1889. 
To  the  f'niiniiittee  on  Invifafions,  Rev.  S.  Hnpkin.'^  Emery,  Sfcretiiri/,  Taun- 
ton, Mafts. 
Gentlemen: — It  is  with  great  pleasure  I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration,  on  the  4th  and  5th  of 
June  proximo,  of  the  25()th  Anniver.sary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton, 
but  regret  that  I  shall  be  unable  to  give  myself  the  gratification  of  ac- 
cepting it. 

It  would  be  an  especial  satisfaction  to  be  present  on  the  interesting 
occasion,  for  on  my  paternal  side  I  trace  my  ancestry  from  John  Smith 
Sen'r.  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Taunton  in  16.39,— died  1691, — who  mar- 
ried Jael  Packer, — to  John  Jr. — married  Mary  Godfrey, — to  Job, — mar- 
ried Hannah  Barney,  grand  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Danforth.  Jnn'r, — 
to  John  Wilson, — married  Susanna  Tillinghast, — to  William  Henry,  my 
father, — married  Mary  Chaplin  Avery. 

Sincerely  thanking  you  for  including  me  among  your  invited  guests, 
I  am  very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't, 

John   Wilson  Smith. 

(Letter  I'roin  Cluu'les  W.  Tlirasher,  Esq.) 

Springfield,  Mo.,  May  28,  1889. 
J/e.s.sT.s.  liirlKinl  Ilcury  Hall,  Sniiiuel  Hopkins  Enwyy,  John  William.^  Dean 
Hall,  William  Eddy  Fuller,  Henry  Morton  Loverincf,  George  Al- 
bert Washburn,  Comniittee  on  Invitations. 

Gentlemen: — Please  accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  kind  and 
cordial  invitation,  to  be  present  on  the  .5th  of  June  next  at  the  Celebra- 
tion of  the  25()th  Anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Taunton.  It  would  af- 
ford me  much  pleasure  to  be  present  on  the  occasion  mentioned,  but 
business  engagements  render  it  impossible.  I  shall  never  forget  your 
beautiful  and  grand  Old  City,  and  the  many  kind  friends  I  left  there. 
The  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  a  town  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts, 
having  an  existence  of  two  and  one  half  centuries,  could  not  be  other- 
wise than  interesting.  The  history  of  the  old  towns  of  Massachusetts 
most  conspicuously  illustrates  the  influences  and  traits  of  character, 
which  have  made  America  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the  world.  One 
who  has  never  lived  in  the  great  west  can  hardly  understand  or  appreci- 
ate the  vast  and  beneficent  influence  of  New  England  and  her  stern  Puri- 
tanical institutions  and  principles,  in  molding  the  development  and 
civilization  of  this  entire  Continent.  I  am  assured  that  your  Celebra- 
tion will  not  only  prove  a  success,  but  will  also  be  unusually  interesting; 
and  I  much  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  share  with  you  its  pleasures  and 
benefits. 


l62  QUARTER    MILLENNIA!.    CELEBRATION. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  the  graml  ohl  city  of  Taunton,  and  its  good 
people.  :ind  for  its  and  their  future  prosperity,  I  am 
Respectfully  yours, 

Charles  W.  Thrashkh. 

(Letter  from  Georae  A.  Crocker,  Esq.) 

New  York,  May  10,  lS8!t. 
My  Dear  Mr.  Emery: — I  am  in  receipt  of  the  very  pleasant  invita- 
tion to  be  present  in  the  City  of  Taunton  on  the  5th  of  June,  and  am 
much  gratified  at  beino  thus  remembered.  It  would  certainly  <^ive  me 
great  pleasuie  to  attend  the  interesting  ceremonies,  but  I  can  see  now 
that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  do  so.  I  am  sorry  to  be  deprived  of 
so  pleasant  an  experience  as  this  celebration  in  Taunton,  for  though  it  is 
many  years  since  I  left  the  good  old  place,  I  still  cherish  the  fondest 
recollections  of  all  the  associations  of  my  early  life  there.  With  cordiiil 
regards  for  your.self  .and  the  other  gentlemen  of  your  committee,  believe 
me,  Very  sincerely  yours, 

Geo.  a.  Cr.ocker. 

(Letter  from  Ex-Gov.  .Josepli  H.  Williams  of  Maine.) 

Augusta,  Maine,  May  22,  1889. 

Gentlemen:— I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
invitation  to  visit  Taunton  on  the  4tli  and  '>Xh  of  June  next,  as  a  guest 
of  that  city,  and  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  occasion, 
which  you  intend  to  make  a  most  attractive  memorial  of  the  early 
Fathers. 

I  would  gladly  avail  myself  of  the  generous  hospitality  of  your  city 
to  pay  the  humble  tribute  of  my  presence,  at  least,  at  the  time  and  place 
appointed  to  manifest  our  pious  interest  in  the  early  period  before 
Cohannet  became  Taunton — but  the  state  of  my  health  will  not  permit 
me  to  take  a  journey  at  this  time,  and  to  undergo  the  fatigue  incident  to 
a  full  appreciation  and  enjoyment   of  the   celebration  you  have  in  view. 

Permit  me  to  add  that  I  shall  regret  my  absence  from  your  festi 
vities  the  more  because,  within  a  few  weeks,  1  have  received  from  Eng- 
land some  interesting  items  of  intelligence  about  my  ancestor  Richard 
Williams,  prior  to  his  emigration:  and  if  I  could  be  present,  and  were 
to  be  called  upon  to  say  a  word  or  two,  at  some  suitable  stage  of  your 
proceedings,  I  am  quite  sure  the  authentic  facts  I  have  learned  would 
impart  a  grateful  flavor  to  whatever  I  might  feel  moved  to  say  concern- 
ing Deacon  Richard  and  his  well  born  wife — Frances  Dighton. 

But,  I  pray  you  to  have  me  excused;  and  trusting  that  all  propitious 
influences  will  attend  your  2.50th  anniversary, 
I  am  very  gratefully  yours, 

Joseph  H.  Williams. 
Eev.  Samuel  Hopkins  Empvn,  otc.  of  the  Comniifff^e  on  InnfiiflDiis,   Tami- 

ton,  ]\f(iss. 

Mr.  Williams,  on  being  applied  to,  .since  the  anniversan', 
for  copies  of  any  official  certificates  in  his  possession,  show- 
ing new  facts  concerning  Richard  Williams,  has  done  ns  the 
favor  of  transmitting  the  following  : — 


THE    BANQUET.  1 63 


(Extract  from  Rjolands  City  of  (iloucester,  (Eng.)  page  184.    Inscriptions  in  St.  Nicli- 

olas  Church.) 

"Here  lies  interred  the  bodies  of  John  Deigliton  of  tliis  city,  gent., 
and  Jane,  his  wife,  daughter  to  Edward  Basset  of  Uley,  Eng.,  liy  whom 
he  had  issue  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  spent  all  his  time  in  the 
study  of  chirurgery  and  attained  to  great  knowledge  therein. 

He  died  16  May  1()(40)— and  she  the  23  April  l(i81.— " 

II. 

(Baptism  of  Frances  Dighton,  in  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  Gloucester.) 

"Anno  dmi  1611. 
•'The  first  of   March   was  baptized   Frances  the   daughter  of   John 
Dighton. " 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  Register  of  Bap- 
tisms of  the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  Gloucester,  extracted  this  four- 
teenth day  of  December,  1888, — by  me, 

(Signed)  John  J.  Luce,  Vicar. 

III. 

(Marriages.) 

"  Richard  Williams  of  the  parishe  of  St.  Johns  in  Glouc'r  and  Fran- 
ces Deighton  of  the  parishe  of  St.  Nicholas  in  Glouc'r  afoiesayd  were 
marryed  the  Xlth  daye  of  February  at  Witcombe  Magna  by  Mr.  Stubbs 
(t)eacher  1632. " 

«  «  * 

"John  Lloyd,  Minister. 

Thomas  Baylis,     J  ^h        i         j        >» 
Richard  PACKsk,  f  Church  wardens." 

[Witcombe  Magna  is  about  five  miles  (easterly)  from  city  of  Gloucester.] 
"I  certify  the  above  to  be  a  correct  extract  from  the  Transcript  of 
the  Register  of  the  pari.sh  of  Great  Witcombe  for  the  year  1632  now  in 
my  lawful  keeping. '' 

(Signed) 
B.  Bonner,  N.  P.,  Registrar  of  the  Diocese  of  Gloucester  and  Bris- 
tol at  Gloucester. 

IV. 

(St.  Nicholas  Vicarage,  Gloucester.    "Mr.  Thomas, has  discovered  these  two  l)ai)tis- 

inal  entries.) 

"  1634  March  27,  John,  son  of  Richard  Williams.  " — 
"1635  February  7,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Richard  Williams." — 

Yours  very  tiuly, 
(Signed)  J.  J.  Luce'" 

18,   12.  '88. 

Copy  of  a  Post  Card  addressed  to  Conway  Dighton,  Esq.,  St.  Julius, 
Cheltenham. 

[The  Civil  year  began  March  25tb,] 


164  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  Hon.  James  Savage,  once  President  of  the  Mass. 
Historical  Society,  in  V^ol,  4  of  his  Genealogical  Dictionary, 
)).  565,  quoting  from  Emery's  ministry  of  Taunton.  Vol.  i 
p.  44 — what  is  there  stated  concerning"  the  Richard  Williams 
family,  observes  :  "  I  greatly  distrust  the  tradition  of  his  ver}- 
early  coming  to  our  country  and  more  the  Gloucestershire 
wife.  "  We  are  glad  to  be  assured  that  the  correspondence 
of  Gov.  Williams,  now  published,  removes  all  ground  for 
"distrust"  concerning  either  the  marriage  or  the  early  com- 
ing to  this  country. 

Frances  Dighton,  the  wife  of  Richard  Williams,  was  the 
daughter  of  Jane  Bassett,  the  daughter  of  Edward  Bassett, 
whose  lineage  appears  to  run  back  to  the  first  Lord  Berkeley. 
Hence  the  expression  "  w'ell  born"  is  not  misapplied  to  her. 
Seethe  "Visitation  of  Gloucestershire,  1623  "  and  printed 
in  Vol.  21,  Publications  of  Harleian  Society,  1885. 

(Letter  from  Artlmr  Kinglake,  Esq.) 
Haines  Hill,  Taunton.  England.  May,  21,  1889. 

My  Deak  Sir: — Many  thanks  for  your  kind  invitation  to  join  in  the 
approaching-  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  city  of  Taunton  whicii 
would  have  given  me  great  pleasure  to  have  accepted,  but  as  you  are 
aware,  I  am  no  longer  young  and  am  not  free  from  the  infirmities  of 
old  age.  You  have  extended  your  hospitalities  not  only  to  me  but  like- 
wise to  some  of  the  citizens  of  our  town,  and  I  am  not  without  a  hope 
that  a  representative  of  old  Taunton  may  be  enabled  to  be  present  at 
the  forthcoming  ceremony.  It  is  cheering  to  me  and  my  friends  to  find 
that  you  have  not  forgotten  us,  and  be  assured  that  we  thoroughly  ap- 
preciate your  friendsliip.  1  often  reflect  on  the  spirit  and  enterprise 
and  civilizing  influences  of  your  great  Republic.  We  in  Taunton  have 
not  forgotten  the  extreme  delight  which  we  experienced  some  few  years 
since  by  the  visit  of  your  distinguished  Statesman  and  Author,  Mr. 
Lowell,  who  delivered  in  our  Shire  Hall  in  Taunton,  a  splendid  address 
(m  the  life  and  character  of  the  ''father  of  the  English  novel,"  Henry 
Fielding,  one  of  the  worthies  of  Somersetshire. 

The  name  of  General  Washington  is  not  forgotten  in  Somerset  to 
this  day.  When  the  unhappy  war  between  this  country  and  America 
took  place,  Lady  Harriet  Acland  in  a  truly  heroic  spirit  sought  Ut  ac- 
company her  husband  Colonel  Acland  on  the  Battle  Field  and  this  re- 
quest was  courteously  granted  by  the  illustrious  Commander. 

With  best  compliments  to  Mr.  Lovering  and  his  family, 
I  remain  with  much  esteem  and  regard  yours  very  sincerely, 

Ajjtiutk  Kinglake, 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Somerset, 


THE    BANQUET.  1 65 

I  Letter  I  loin    .lohii   .M:ii>IkiI1,  Ksij.) 

HkLMONT,  TAL  NTON,   KN(iLANl).   MAY  8,    1889. 

Dkak  Sii;: — 1  bej;  to  tliank  yo'i  JUid  your  (-011111111100  for  your  kind 
invitation  to  he  incsent  wlioii  you  celebrate  the  250th  Anuiversary  of  the 
loundinu  of  Taunton.  Mass. 

r  reyrot  I  am  not  able  to  accept  it;  my  healtli  i.s  very  feeble,  and  1 
am  (luite  unable  to  leave  my  home. 

I  am  yours  faithfully. 
The  R<i\  S.  Unjih-iiis   Kmcry.  .John  Mahshai.i.. 

(Letter  troui  Edwin  Sloiier,  Escj.) 

Taunton,  Old  England,  May  7,  188'J. 

Gentlemen: — Very  many  thanks  for  the  cordial  invitation  to  the 
City  of  Taunton  to  celebrate  the  --'SOth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
our  sister  town.  Unfortunately  my  time  is  so  occupied  that  I  am  pre- 
cluded from  accepting  this  kindly  and  well  meant  desire.  Had  I  been 
able  to  particijiate  in  your  welcome  gathering  it  was  my  intention  to 
read  a  short  paper  on  •"Old  Taunton"  and  how  a  tribe  of  incoming 
Saxons  settled  in  the  Dean  and  made  it  their  home  in  the  seventh  cen- 
tury. 1  think  I  should  also  have  been  capable  of  nearly  proving  that 
.Street  gave  the  name  to  your  town. 

Trusting  that  everytijing  will  pass  oft  in  the  most  satisfactory  man- 
ner and  sharing  in  your  views  and  the  delights  which  you  anticipate, 
Believe  me  yours  very  truly. 

Edwin  Slopeh. 
Till'  C'liiiiiiiUfrr  nn  InvHiifioii.  2.oO(A  Aiinlrfrftur}/,  Tiiuiiton.  Ma.ss. 

(Letter  troiii   Wiltred  .Marshall,  Esq.  1 

The  Elm.  Taunton,  England,  May  2:].  188'J. 

Dkak  .Sir: — Having  just  returned  home  after  a  few  weeks  visit  to 
th<-  South  of  Fiance,  I  find  awaiting  me  your  kind  invitation  to 
take  part  in  the  ceremonies  attending  the  celebration  of  the  250th  An- 
niversary of  the  founding  of  your  town. 

I  ain  much  gratified  that  you  should  have  been  pleased  to  ask  me  to 
be  )»resent  on  such  an  auspicious  occasion.  It  is  with  infinite  regret  I 
timl  myself  unable  to  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  of  revisiting 
your  city,  and  renewing,  under  such  pleasant  auspices,  my  acquaintance 
Willi  those  of  your  fellow  citizens  whose  hospitality  and  welcome  ex- 
tended to  me  in  the  years  '78,  '79  and  '8:5,  I  shall  always  bear  in  grateful 
remembrance. 

I  am,  dear  sir.  yours  very  faithfully, 
liir.  s.  Hiipk-ius  Kmerii.  WiLFicED  Marshall. 

(Letter  fioiii  Tlioiuas  .M.  Hawkins,  Esq.) 
ii7  High  Stkket.  Taunton,  England.  May'  18,  1889. 
\)v.\\\  Sii::— As  a  member  of  the  Taunton  Town  Council  this  side  of 
till'  water,  permit  me  to  heartily  thank  you  and  your  committee  for  the 
kind  and  cordial  invitation  to  participate  in  the  celebration  of  the  2.50th 
.Vunivcrsary  of  the  founding  of  our  namesake  your  side  of  the  water. 
Could  I  spare  the  time  and  needful,  1  do  not  know  any  thing  that  would 
give  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  be  with  you  on  June  4  and  5.  but  uii- 


i66  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL     CELEBRATION. 

foifcunately  these  two  obstacles  cannot  be  overcome,  so  I  can  only  be  with 
you  in  spirit  on  those  days.  I  trust  you  may  have  a  very  successful  cel- 
ebration and  your  city  go  on  and  prosper  as  in  the  past. 

Although  our  Taunton  is  so  much  older  than  yours  yet  you  have 
become  a  city  while  we  still  remain  as  far  as  name  in  statu  quo,  but  our 
population  is  increasing,  our  boundaries  expanding,  and  things  generally 
looking  up. 

Will  it  be  troubling  you  to  send  me  a  newspaper  containing  a  report 
of  your  proceedings  on  the  4th  and  5th  proximo'?  If  so  please  take  no 
notice  of  this  request,  as  I  know  you  will  be  very  busy,  but  I  shall  be 
glad  to  hear  of  your  goings  on.  Now,  sir,  please  again  accept  my  thanks 
and  best  wishes,  and  believe  me. 

Yours  faithfully. 
The  Rrr.  S.  Hopkins  Emery.  Thomas  M.  Hawkins. 

To  the  Mayor  and  Corporation  of  the  ancient  town  of 
Taunton,  England,  as  to  all  the  invited  guests  of  the  city, 
was  sent  the  following  form  of  invitation  :  ^ 

1639.  City  Seal.  1889. 

The  honor  of  your  presence  is  respectfully  desired  on 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  the  4th  and  5th  of  June  of  this 
year,  at  the  celebration  of  the  250th  anniversary  of  the  found- 
ing of  Taunton. 

You  are  cordially  invited,  as  a  guest  of  the  city,  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  ceremonies  of  the  occasion. 

Richard  Henry  Hall, 

Samuel  Hopkins  Emery,        John  Williams  Dean  Hall, 

William  Eddy  Fuller,  Henry  Morton  Lovekino, 

George  Albert  Washijurn, 

Committee  on  Invitations. 

This  form  of  Invitation,  sent  to  each  member  of  the 
Corporation  of  Taunton,  luigland,  was  supplemented  as  fol- 
lows : 

To  Ilix  Honor,  the  Manor  of  flu-  ISoroinjh  0/  Timntnii,  SimK-rsefshirc,  Eng- 
land: 
Deak  Sir: — We  learn  from  the  Charter  of  your  municipality  con- 
tained in  the  valuable  volume  so  kindly  .sent  to  the  city  of  Taunton.  New 
England,  by  your  Body  in  1S84,  that  your  municipal  government  is  com- 
posed of  the  Mayor,  six  Aldermen  and  eighteen  Councilors. 


THE    BANQUET.  1 67 

\Vv  Mu'ieforL"  send  a  paekat^eof  five  and  twenty  cards  of  invitation  to 
our  proposed  (■i-lehration.  wiiicii  we  will  tliaiik  you  to  dii'eet  to  sucli 
]),'rsous  as  nre  associated  witli  you  in  the  Government  of  the  Boroujjh. 
Will  you  assure  tlieni.  all  and  each,  of  the  heartiness  with  which  we. 
ri'presentini;'  the  Xew  Eiii;land  daushtei-,  send  her  greeting  across  the 
water,  to  the  ancient  town  in  the  mother  land,  whence  she  derived  her 
n;nni'.  Hopinj;'  to  welcome  you  to  this  our  quarter  millennial  festival, 
We  remain  very  sincerely  yours, 

Richard  Hexi:y  Hall.  Mayor. 
Chairman  of  Committee  on  Invitations. 
.Sam'i-  Hopkins  E.mkijy.  Sec.  of  Com. 

Taunton,  Mass.,   U.  8.  A.,  24th  April,  1889. 

The  reply  to  the  above,  bearing  date  the  i6th  of  Ma)^ 
was  received  in  time  to  be  read  at  the  Banquet.  See  page.s 
I  I  o    I  I  I . 

A  later  communication,  dated  the  23d  of  May,  wa.s,  a.s 
follows  : 

Letter  from  Hon.  Henry  J.  Sjiiller.) 

Tauntox,  England,  May  2;J,  188'j 

Dkah  Mi;.  .Mavok: — By  this  post  I  have  sent  you  the  address  of 
congratulation  from  our  Town,  to  the  citizens  of  her  dauu^hter  Town  in 
the  New  World,  on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of  the  2.50th  anniver- 
sary of  the  fonndinii  of  your  Town. 

We  are  havinj;  an  oak  frame  made  for  the  address  which  I  hope  to 
forward  in  a  few  (lays,  and  it  will  be  interesting  for  you  to  know  it  will 
he  niiule  of  (dd  Kn^lish  oak  taken  from  the  old  St.  Mary's  Tower,  which 
was  pulled  down  more  than  t  lirty  years  ago. 

.\  view  of  the  new  town,  the  design  of  which  is  a  copy  of  the  old,  is 
shown  in  the  address,  also  a  view  of  our  old  Castle,  which  is  now  used 
as  a  museum. 

I  am  sorry  myself  or  any  member  of  our  corporation  will  be  unable 
to  be  piesent  with  you.  but  1  trust  your  Celebration  will  be  successful 
in  every  way. 

With  kind  regards,  and  best  wishes.  I  remain,  dear  Mr.  Mayor, 
Yours  faithfully. 

Henry  .1.  Spillbr,  Mayor  of  Taunton,  England. 
To  Ins  llnnnr  Tlx^  Mdynr,  Ctfi/  'it   Tiinntn,,.  Ma.^,s(ic/,i(setts,  U.   S.   A., 

The  "addre.s.s  of  congratulation,"  to  which  the  mayor 
refers  in  his  letter  arrived  in  good  time,  followed  by  its  "oak 
frame,  "  and  the\-  have  been  the  admiration  of  all  who  have 
seen  them,  e\er  since.     The  text  of  the  address  is  as  follows: 

T"    til'   Mm/or.  Al'lenneii,  (Jimncillors,   mid  (JitiK'iis  i,f  the  City  "I'   Tcun- 
/o/i,  Miissarli'iseU.s.    U.  S.  A. 
We.  the  Mayor,  Aldeimen,  and  Burg(;sses  of  the  Borough  of  Taun- 
ton, in  England,  desire  to  offer  you  our  heartfelt  congratulations  upon 


l68  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

the  celebiiition  of  the  "ioOth  Anniversary  of  the  founding;  of  your  town. 
As  the  <:joverning  body  of  the  Mother  Town  from  wliencc  your  city 
spran<;',  we  regard  with  affection  the  memory  of  her  enterprising  vsons 
and  daugliters,  who  carried  with  them  to  distant  lands  beyond  tlie  seas 
the  name  and  traditions  of  the  birth-phice  of  themselves  and  their  ances- 
tors. Although  unable  to  be  present  and  participate  in  the  ceremonies 
with  which  this  auspicious  occasion  will  be  celebrated,  we  can  assure 
you  that  the  ties  of  kindred  and  tongue  which  bind  your  mighty  Nation 
to  the  mother  Country  are  still  further  strengthened  by  the  remem- 
brance that  there  exists  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  a  city  worthy  of 
handing  down  to  posterity  the  name  of  Taunton,  which  is  endeared  to 
us  by  the  recollection  of  its  historic  past,  the  contemplation  of  its  pros- 
perous present,  and  the  promise  of  a  still  brighter  future.  We  sincerely 
trust  that  the  Trade  and  Commerce  of  your  City  may  grow  and  flourish, 
and  that  the  enterprise  of  its  Citizens  may  increase  in  prestige  and  im- 
portance, so  that  succeeding  generations  may  inherit  wealth  and  inos- 
perity,  and  enjoy  the  blessings  of  health  and  happiness. 

Given  under  the  Common  Seal  of   said  Borough,  this  21st   day  of 
May,  1889. 

Henkv  J.  Spiller,  Mayor. 

Thos.  Meyleu,  Town  Clerk. 

The  Reply  of  Hon.  R.  H.  Hall,    Mayor,  to  the  letter  of 
Congratulation  was  as  follows  : 

Mayor's  Office,  City  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  June  Stii.  ISWi. 
Dear  Mr.  Mayor. — Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  2od  ult.  came  duly 
to  hand,  and  on  the  evening  of  June  4th  I  received  the  address  of 
congratulation  from  the  mother  town  of  Taunton  to  her  namesake  in  the 
New  World.  My  Dear  Mayor,  on  behalf  of  our  citizens,  1  desire  to  ex- 
tend to  the  ancient  town  of  Taunton  our  grateful  appreciation  of  this 
expression  of  regard  so  beautifully  embellished  in  this  testimonial.  Our 
hearts  have  been  filled  with  deep  emotion  as  we  read  the  sentiments  ad- 
vanced therein,  and  we  trust  that  the  ties  which  bind  us  together  may  be 
cemented  more  closely  by  this  interchange  of  congratulations,  and  that 
we  may  for  ever  remain  one  in  sympathy  and  good  will  as  we  are  one  in 
name.  Our  City  Council  will  take  early  official  action  on  this  lecogni- 
tion  and  acceptance,  which  I  will  forward  to  you  in  due  time  Our  cel- 
ebration has  been  a  gi-eat  success,  far  exceeding  anything  within  the 
former  history  of  the  municipality.  I  forward  to  your  address  copies  of 
our  city  newspapers,  giving  a  detailed  account,  also  some  souvenirs  of 
the  interesting  event.     With  kind  regards,  I  remain,  sincerely  yours. 

Richard  Hknky  Hall, 

Mayor. 
To  Ilix  Honor,  The  Mai/or  <>>'  Tduntun,  Si)iiu-i-Ni't.sliin-.  hJiu/ldinl , 

The  "oak  frame"  was  aeeompanied  with  a  letter  as  fol- 
lows : 

Taunton,   EN(iLANi),    Nov'r  8th,  188U. 

Dk.vk  Mil.  Mayoi;: — 1  have  at  last   sent   you   the  long  promised  oak 

frame  for  the  Congratulatory  address  sent    by  our  Corporation.      1  trust 

it  will  arrive  safely  and  that  you  will  be  able  to  lind  a  place  for  it  in  your 


THE     BANQUET.  1 69 

Municipal    Biiil(lin<;.s.     The  carvings  in  the  upper  corners  represent,  old 
En^jhind  to  America,  and  the  lower  ones,    old  Taunton  to  new  Taunton. 

My  year  of  office  expires  to-morrow  and  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of 
cnclosin<j  one  of  my  pliotos  and  ask  your  acceptance  of  the  same  as  a 
small  memento  of  my  year  of  office,  and  should  be  pleased  to  receive 
one  of  yours.  If  you  .send  it  please  direct  it  to  me  at  81  Bridfje  Street, 
Taunton. 

Wishing  you  and  your  people  every  happiness  and  prosperity,  I  am. 
dear  Mr.  Mayor, 

Yours  sincerely, 

Henry  James  Spilleu, 
It.  H.  Hdll,  Esq.  Mayor  of  Taunton. 

To  Mayor  Spillcr".s  letter  of  the  8th  of  Nov.,  Mayor  Hall 
replied  as  follows,  at  the  same  time  sending  the  reply  of  the 
City  Government  to  the  "Address  of  Congratulation"  from 
Taunton,  England. 

Mayor's  Office,  City  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  30th,  1889. 

Dear  Mr.  Mayor: — Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  8th  inst.  came  duly 
to  hand,  and  the  frame  which  you  have  forwarded,  I  dare  say  will  reach 
us  in  due  time.  I  have  shipped  to-day  by  European  Express  Co.,  our  re- 
ply to  the  congratulatory  address  which  was  unanimously  adopted  by 
our  City  Council.  The  border  around  this  reply  is  a  desifjn  derived  from 
the  Trailing  Arbutus,  a  flower  which  is  said  to  be  indigenous  to  New 
England.  The  small  sketch  at  the  top.  in  the  border,  is  a  scene  repre- 
senting the  arrival  of  the  Mayflower,  in  Plymouth  Harbor.  The  small 
sketch  at  the  bottom,  in  the  border,  is  a  view  on  Taunton  river.  The 
dates  on  each  side  of  the  border  viz:  1(339  and  1889  represent  our  250 
years  of  settlement.  The  sketch  at  the  top  under  the  border  is  a  view- 
on  Taunton  Green  looking  towards  the  Court  House.  On  one  side  of 
the  sketch  you  will  find  the  Massachusetts  Coat  of  Arms,  and  on  the 
other  the  American.  Enclosed  within  the  large  initial  is  a  sketch  of  our 
City  Hall. 

The  face  of  the  frame  which  encloses  the  reply  was  made  from  a 
piece  of  timber  taken  from  the  wreck  of  the  Ship  Spariowhawk, 
and  was  presented  to  the  City  of  Taunton  by  the  Pilgrim  Society  of 
Plymouth,    Mass.     The  back  of  the  frame  was  made  of  American    oak. 

The  Sparrowhawk  was  a  stanch  little  craft,  built  of  oak.  which 
sailed  from  England  in  1626  with  passengers  for  the  new  world,  and  was 
wrecked  off  Orleans,  Cape  Cod.  It  was  speedily  covered  with  sand,  and 
remained  covered  until  a  few  years  since,  when  an  unusually  severe 
storm  unearthed  the  old  hulk.  It  was  then  removed  and  presented  to 
the  Pilgrim  Society,  Plymouth,  and  has  at  last  found  a  resting  place  in 
Pilgrim  Hall,  where  it  has  been  set  up,  and  is  now  on  exhibition. 

Trusting  the  above  will  reach  you  safely,  and  wishing  you  and  the 
Borough  of  Taunton  long  continued  prosperity.  I  remain,  dear  Mr. 
Mayor, 

Yours  sincerely, 

Richard  Henry  Hall, 
Mayor  of  Taunton,  New  England. 
Td  lli.s  Honor.  The  Mai/or  of  Ttiunton,  Somersetshire,  England. 


170  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


REPLY     TO    ADDRKSS    OF    CONORATULAIION. 

'iltf  Mayor,  Ahlermcii.  mid  Coininoii  Council  of  Taunton  in  New  Euuhnid.  to 
the  Mai/or,  Ahlermen.  and  liunjfx.'^es  of  Taunton  in  Old  knylund. 

GiiEKTiNti:  We  liave  been  deeply  touched  by  the  reception  of  your 
kind  address  of  Congratulation  upon'  the  celebration  of  the  25(lth  anni- 
versary of  tlie  founding  of  our  town,  which  happily  arrived  on  the  very 
(lay  of  its  occurrence.  We  assure  you  that  we  fully  reciprocate  your 
kindly  sentiments  so  pleasantly  expressed,  and  we  fondly  cherish  the 
memory  of  your  ancient,  brave,  and  loyal  Borough,  with  its  historic 
Castle,  its  beautiful  church  of  St.  xVIary.  and  its  charming  river  in  that 
lovely  vale  of  Taunton  Dean.  We  wonder  not  that  our  fatiiers  chose  our 
name  ''in  honor  and  love  to  their  dear  and  native  country"  and  we  con- 
gratulate ourselves  that  they  brought  with  them  from  their  own  land 
those  lofty  and  sterling  principles  of  thought  and  action  which  have  con- 
tributed so  much  to  our  prosperity,  and  .secured  for  us  the  manifold 
blessings  we  now  enjoy.  May  we  never  bring  discredit  on  our  ancient 
name,  but  rather  lead  our  English  mother  to  ever  feel  a  just  pride  in  her 
American  daughter,  and  may  the  bonds  of  love  and  amity  between  us. 
and  between  our  respective  countries  grow  stronger  and  stronger  till 
time  shall  be  no  more. 

Given  in  our  Council  Chamber,  this  eighth  day  of  August,  A.  D..  1880. 

RicnAKi)  Hexijy  Hall,  Mayor. 
Ripley  W^.  Townsknd,  Pres.  of  the  Common  Council. 

Kdwin  a.  Tltlow.  City  (Jlerk. 

To  thi.s  "Reply"  from  Tduntoii,  New  l^nglancl,  the  fol- 
lowiiij;"  has  been  received: 

Tal  NT(>.\,   Eng.,   Feb.  .j.  1800. 

WoitsHii'KLn,  Sir: — The  package  containing  the  framed  address  as 
advised,  came  safely  to  hand  and  was  ofticially  handed  to  the  Taunton 
town  council  at  its  last  meeting,  when  Alderman  Si)iller  lead  the  corre- 
spondence addiessed  to  liinL  On  behalf  of  the  council  I  am  desired  to 
express  to  you  and  the  members  of  the  corporation  of  tin-  city  of  Taun- 
ton how  much  we  esteem  your  kind  and  beautifully  framed  address.  It 
now  hangs  in  a  conspicuous  position  in  our  new  council  chamber  and  I 
trust  will  l)e  handed  down  to  future  generations  as  a  proof  of  the  good 
feeling  existing  between  the  corporation  of  the  city  of  Taunton,  IT.  .S.  A.. 
and  the  town  of  Taunton,  England.  May  your  city  still  continue  to 
prosper  in  every  sense  of  the  word  and  may  the  bond  of  friendship  be- 
tween old  England  and  your  new  and  great  country  be  strengthened  as 
time  rolls  cm!  The  writei'  has  succeeded  Aldeimaii  .Spillei-  (one  of  the 
best  mayors  Taunton  ever  had)  in  the  civic  chair,  and  should  you  i>ay  a 
visit  to  this  country  during  my  year  of  office  I  can  i)romisc  you  a  hearty 
welcome  to  our  dear  old  town. 

Believe  nie.  dear  Mr.  Mayor, 

Yours  very  faithfully, 

(iROROK  .S.\rM)Ki:s.  .Ir..  Mayor. 
To  his  wor.shipful.  the  mayor  of  'I'aunton,  V.  S.   A. 

W  e  close  our  acc(Hint   of  the   I)an(|uet    with   a  Haltciin;^' 
notice  of  the  celebration  from  an  issue  (jf  a  newspaper  ol    the 


THE    BANQUET.  I71 

mother  town,  soon  after,   and   we   mav   add   that  letters  ha\e 
been  received  from  many,  who  were  present  or  who  had  read 
tlie  account  ot   our   proceedinj^s,    expressint;'   in    the  warmest 
terms,  their  _t;rati  heat  ion   at   the   success   of  the  ,i;reat  under-, 
taking;-. 

"rAUNTON's    AMERICAN     DAUGHTER.'' 

The  above  is  the  heading  of  a  column  article  in  a  receut  issue  of 
tile  Taunton.  (England)  Courier,  descriptive  of  our  anniversary  celebra- 
tion, the  introduction  to  which  is  as  follows: 

The  ancient  borough  of  Taunton,  the  county  town  of  Somerset,  can 
trace  back  its  history  for  considerably  more  than  a  thousand  years. 
Many  and  stirring  are  the  events  which  have  occurred  in  the  garden 
town  from  the  days  when  the  Koman  legions  first  occupied  it  as  one  of 
the  dwelling  places  of  the  Hritons.  Since  those  times  of  remote  antiqui- 
ty it  has  been  the  frontier  fortress  of  the  Saxons,  when  the  Tone  was 
made  the  border  of  Wessex;  it  was  seized  by  Perkin  Warbeck  in  his 
brief  rebellion;  Blake's  heroic  defence  of  it  against  the  onslaughts  of 
the  Cavaliers  is  one  of  the  most  famous  incidents  of  the  vvais  of  the  com- 
monwealth, while  the  triumphal  entry  of  the  ill-fated  Monmouth  and 
the  Bloody  Assizes  at  which  the  infamous  Jeffreys  punished  the  Taun- 
tonians  by  hanging  or  transporting  four  hundred  of  them,  forms  one  of 
the  saddest  ]»ages  of  our  national  records.  Though  our  American  cous- 
ins in  Massachusetts  cannot  boast  that  their  city — which  their  ancestors, 
■'in  honor  and  love  to  their  dear  and  native  country,  '*  named  after  the 
well  remembered  English  home  in  the  fair  vale  of  Taunton  Deane— has 
played  so  prominent  a  part  in  history  as  its  namesake,  yet  during  the 
two  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  its  existence  it  has  done  much  of  which 
it  may  well  be  proud.  It  has  greatly  outstripped  the  mother  town  in 
population,  its  manufactures  are  important  and  increasing,  and  it  has 
worthily  followed  the  example  of  old  Taunton  in  its  struggles  for  liberty, 
and  in  that  enterprise  and  desire  to  benefit  by  human  progress  and  dis- 
covery wiiich  has  ever  been  the  characteristic  both  of  the  mother  and 
the  daughter. 

After  quoting-  extensively  from  Judge  liennett's  adch'ess 

and  citing  some  of  the  important  matters  connected  with  the 

celebration,  the  Courier  closes  with  saying : 

On  the  whole,  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton.  Mass.,  are  to  be  congratu- 
lated on  the  highly  satisfactory  way  in  which  they  have  celebrated  their 
anniversary,  and  on  the  thriving  position  in  which  their  industry  has 


172  QUARTER    IMILLE^■^MAL    CELEBRATION. 

placetl  tlu^i^  city.  One  of  tlie  ino.st  pleasinj;  features  of  the  affair,  and 
an  instance  of  liearty  fjood-will  whicli  exists  between  the  mother  and 
daughter  towns,  was  the  cordial  invitations  sent  over  to  tlie  T.aunton 
Town  Councnl  to  send  representatives  to  the  celebration.  The  mayor. 
(.'\lderman  Spiller's)  letter  in  reply  was  published  in  the  Massachusetts 
iu?wspai)ers,  but  it  seems  as  if  the  address  did  not  reach  its  destination 
in  time.  Our  American  cousins  are  rather  at  fault  when,  in  referring  to 
the  old  familiar  names  being  given  to  New  Kngland  towns,  they  say 
*•  Uehoboth  is  in  Somerset,  not  far  from  Taunton.  "  This  name  appears 
to  have  a  Scriptural  derivation. 


RECEPTION  AND  BALL 


City  Hall  was  brilliantly  illuminated  and  beautifulh- 
decorated  with  flags  and  mottoes  in  honor  of  our  x'isitors 
from  abroad.  The  reception  committee  and  others  of  our 
citizens  were  present  to  meet  our  invited  guests.  Reeves' 
l^and  was  in  attendance  and  added  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
occasion  by  their  fine  selections.  After  an  hour  or  two  of 
pleasant  intercourse  the  ball  committee  from  the  adjoining- 
hall  appeared  and  announced  that  the  time  had  arrived  for 
the  commencement  of  the  festivities  there.  Thereupon  this 
informal  but  very  enjoyable  part  of  the  da}''s  observances 
came  to  a  close. 

The  programme  of  Tuesday  closed  with  a  Promenade 
Concert  and  Ball  held  in  Armory  Hall  immediately  after  the 
close  of  the  Public  Reception  at  the  City  Hall,  and  was  in 
charge  of  the  following  committee  : — 

Frederick   Mason,   Chairman, 

Jo.SEPH    R.   T.XLLMAX,  Secretary, 

Ripley  W.   Townsexu, 

Edwin  A.   Tetlow. 

John   H.   Galligan, 

James  C.   Sproat, 

Charles  P.   Foster, 

Alfred  B.   Sproat. 


1/4  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  assignments  of  sub-committees    were  as  follows  : — 

On  Keccption  of  Jm'ited  Guests. 
Frederick.  Mas(.)x,        James  C.  Spruat.       John  H.  Galligan 

On  Hall  Arrangements. 
Edwin  A.  Tetlow,  Riplev  W.  Townsend 

On  Refreshments. 
Frederick.  Mason,      Joseph  R.  Tallman,       James  C.  Sproat 

On  Ball  l^rogramme. 
Alfred  B.  Sproat,  John  H.  Galligan 

On  Decorations. 
RiPLEv  W.  Townsend.  Charles  P.   Foster 

Floor  Director. 
Frederick  Mason. 

Aids. 
Ripley  \^^  Townsend.  Joseph  R.    Tallman, 

Edwin  A.  Teilow,  John  H.  Galligan, 

James  C.  Sproat,  Charles    P.   Foster, 

Alfred  B.  Si-roap,  A.  CTeveland  Bent. 

RoHERT  C.   Brown. 

The  Hall  was  beautifully  decorated  with  streamers, 
flags  and  lace  dra]:)eries,  the  front  of  the  stage  being  filled 
will)  a  terrace  of  jilants  and  flowers  behind  which 'Reeves' 
full  orchestra  was  stationed.  Tlie  invited  guests  were  es- 
corted from  the  Reception  at  the  City  Hall  by  the  reception 
committee,  and  upon  their  ani\al  the  Ball  was  opened  by  a 
Grand  March  led  by  His    Honor  Mayor    Hall  and  Lady,  fol- 


RECEPTION    AND    BALL.  175 

lowed  b\'  more  than  two  liundrcd  couples  amoni;'  whom  were 
man}'  of  our  most  ])i()minent  citizens  who  had  for  years  been 
absent  fi'om  ^atlierin^s  of  this  cliaracter,  but  who  on  this 
t)Ccasion  united  with  the  )'oun,i;"er  element  in  doini;'  honor  to 
our  celebration,  'i'he  electric  lights  shininj.;'  through  the 
many  hued  f^'auze  canop\-  bringin^i;  out  the  rich  coloring"  of  the 
varied  decorations  and  reflected  from  the  g-littering  emblems 
and  devices  with  which  the  walls  were  hung,  the  insjnring 
strains  of  the  music  and  the  elegant  toilets  of  the  ladies  all 
combined  to  make  the  scene  one  long  to  be  remembered,  and 
when  the  festivities  ended,  at  a  late  hour,  it  brought  to  a  close 
one  of  the  most  successful  features  of  the  celebration. 


SECOND  DAY  OF  THE  CELEBRATION. 

The  Grand  Procession. 


The  great  feature  of  the  second  clay's  observances  was 
the  Grand  Procession 

Much  apprehension  was  felt  in  the  morning  lest  the 
weather  should  prove  unfavorable.  But  the  threatening  as- 
pect of  the  clouds  soon  vanished  and  the  day  proved  all  that 
could  have  been  desired. 

Under  the  efTficient  management  and  control  of  the  Chief 
Marshal  every  detail  of  the  vast  parade  had  been  determined, 
and  so  complete  were  the  arrangements,  and  so  faithfully 
were  they  carried  out  by  his  Aids  and  the  Assisant  Marshals 
and  Aids  of  the  different  divisions,  that  the  procession  moved 
promptly  at  eleven  o'clock,  the  appointed  time.  The  streets 
were  packed  with  spectators,  and  every  window,  balcony  and 
piazza  was  crowded  with  citizens  or  guests  who  heartily 
cheered  the  numerous  beautiful  floats,  tableaux  and  trade 
representations.  The  decorations  displayed  were  by  far  the 
most  extensive,  artistic  and  elaborate  the  city  had  ever  seen. 
On  the  route  of  the  procession  the  decorations  were  of  course 
the  most  general  and  profuse,  but  many  even  of  the  dwell- 
ings and  other  buildings  not  so  favored  were  gaily  decked 
out  in  holiday  attire.  The  City  Hall,  county  and  district 
court  houses,  registry  buildings,  public  library  and  police 
station  were  artistically  draped  and  festooned  in  handsome 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION.  177 

designs.      The  City  Hotel   was  one  of  the  first  buildings  to 
be  decorated,  and  was  surely  one  of  the  finest. 

An  arch  of  fine  proportions  spanned  Main  street  near 
City  Square,  t;racefully  decorated  with  evergreens  and  flags, 
and    bearing    on    its  eastern  face  the    legend — 

"'39.       250th  Anniversary  of  Taunton.        '89,  " 
and  on  its  western  face  the  legend — 

"'39.      Sons  and   Daughters  Welcome  Home.        '89." 

On  the  westerly  side  of  the  Common  raised  seats  were 
provided,  and  there  during  the  parade  were  assembled  three 
hundred  boys  and  girls  of  the  grammar  schools  under  the 
charge  of  Mr.  Fred.  W.  Howes,  the  music  teacher.  They 
greeted  the  procession  as  it  passed  with  patriotic  songs, 
fluttering  handkerchiefs,  clapping  hands  and  enthusiastic 
cheers.  Nothing  on  the  route  of  the  procession  was  so  thrill- 
ing and  beautiful.  The  eyes  of  many  glistened  with  tears 
while  their  faces  beamed  with  smiles,  as  they  passed  this 
blooming  array  of  the  coming  generation. 

No  mere  enumeration  of  the  varied  representations  of 
our  arts,  industries,  manufactures  and  trades,  which  so  largely 
constituted  the  attractive  features  of  the  procession,  can  give 
an  adequate  idea  of  the  fulness,  completeness  and  magnifi- 
cence of  the  display  as  a  whole.  Never  before  did  our  own 
citizens  behold  such  a  demonstration  of  our  broadly  diversi- 
fied industries,  and  of  the  degree  of  excellence  attained  in 
them.  For  one  day  we  could  well  afford  to  be  proud  of  our 
progress  and  attainments. 

The  towns  of  Norton,  Dighton,  Raynham  and  Berkley, 
daughters  of  Ancient  Taunton,  added  features  of  great  his- 
toric interest  to  the  parade  by  their  fine  displays.  Much 
labor  and  thought  had  evidently  been  bestowed  upon  the 
details  of  their  representations  by  the  town  committees,  for 
which  they  are  deserving  of  very  great  credit. 


1/8 


QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


The  procession  extended  over  a  distance  of  four  miles 
and  was  arranged  in  the  following  order. 

FORMATION  OF   PROCESSION. 

Four  Mounted  Police — Platoon  of  Police  under  command  of  City 

Marshal  Francis  L.  Dow.     American  Band,  Providence, 

D.  W.  Reeves,  Leader. 

Chief  Marshal,  HENRY  M.  LOVERING. 

STAFF. 

Chief  of  Staff,  Lieut.-Col.  Alfred  B.  Hodges. 


William  H.  Bent, 
F.  L.  Fish, 
F.  S.  Babbitt, 
George  H.  Talbot, 
Giles  L.  licacli, 
George  F.  Howard, 
John  C.  Sharp,  Jr., 
George  0.  Morse, 
Fred.  S.  Hall, 
Joseph  S.  Tidd, 
C.  B.  Gardiner, 
Frederick  Thayer, 


AIDS. 

N.   H.  Skinner, 
Edward  B.  Maltby, 
Edward  Mott, 
Joseph  A.  Bullard, 
John  W.  Rogers, 
Horace  W.  Durgin, 
H.  Frank  Reed, 
Edward  F.  Galligan, 
H.  P.  Copeland, 
William  C.  Davenport, 
W.  J.  Clemson, 
George  F.  Chace, 

FIRST  DIVISION. 


Silas  D.  Presbrey, 
William  R.  Billings, 
Orville  A.  Barker, 
Oliver  Ames,  2d, 
Arthur  R.  Sharp, 
Cyrus  Savage, 
Edward  Lovering, 
John  J.  Barker, 
Henry  S.   Hack, 
W.   F.   Kennedy, 
William  M.   Lovering, 
William  F.  Palmer. 


Capt.  Alden  H.  Blake,   Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Col.  Elisha  Doane,     Capt.  Geo.  A.  King,     Lieut.  Chas.  F.  Park, 

F.  Arthur  Walker,     Edward  King,  John  C.  Macdonald. 

Company  F,  ist  Regt.  Infantry,  M.  V.   M. 

Taunton  High  School  Cadets. 

CARRIAGES, 

Containing  His  Excellency  Oliver  Ames,  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  Staff;  His  Honor,  R.  Henry  Hall,  Mayor  of  the  City  of 
Taunton,  President  of  the  day;  Hon.  Marcus  Morton,  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Mass.;  His  Honor  the  Lieut. -Gov- 
ernor and  members  of  the  Executive  Council ;  Invited  Guests  ;  the 


TABLEAU  VIVANT. 

Dighton  Rock.     First  Approach  of  Civilization. 


&gS^:^:^i 


TABLbAU  VIVANT. 
Cohannct,  the  Land  of  Snow. 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION.  1/9 

Orator,  Poet,  and  Toastmaster  of  the  day ;  Members  of  Congress ; 
Members  of  the  Massachusetts  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives;  Members  of  the  City  Government;  Veterans  of  Co.  G,  4th 
Regt.  M.  V.    M.,  (3  mos.,)  and  distinguished  citizens. 


No.  I 
No.  2 

No.  3 
No.  4 
No.  5 
No.  6 

No.  7 


HISTORICAL    TABLEAUX. 

DiGHTON  Rock,  the  First  Approach  of  Civilization. 

CoHANNET,  the  Land  of  Snow, 

Elizabeth  Pole,  "  Dux  Femina  Facti. " 

The  Capture  of  Anawan. 

The  Leonard  House. 

The  Puritan  Parson,  a  Leader  of  his  People. 

Jesse  Smith  and  his  well-known  Stage  Coach. 


SECOND    DIVISION. 

H.   A.  Cushman,  Assistant  Marshal. 

aids. 

Charles  B.  Hathaway,       John  C.  Chace,       Frank  R.  Washburn, 

Henry  A.  Pratt. 
Representations  from  towns  which  once  formed  a  part  of  Taunton. 

NORTON,   incorporated    171I. 

Represented  by  the  Crescent  Drum  and  Fife  corps,  sixteen  men. 

E.  R.  Lincoln,  six-horse  team  representing  heavy  teaming, 
with  banner  bearing  the  legend,  "  Norton  171 1 — 1889.  " 

Geo.  H.  Talbot,  four-horse  team  with  large  load  of  combed 
wool,  representing  wool  scouring. 

A.  H.  Sweet,  two  two-horse  teams  and  two  one-horse  teams 
with  wood  and  paper  boxes,  representing  wood  and  paper  box 
manufacturing. 

A.  G.  Pierce,  one  two-horse  team  with  cases,  representing 
cotton  yarn  manufacturing. 

J.  S.  \\'ood,  two  two-horse  teams,  representing  agricultural  im- 
plements, wood  and  coal. 


l80  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

DIGHTON,    INCORPORATED     1712. 

Represented  by  carriage  with  national  flag  bearing  the  inscription, 
Dighton,   1672, — 1712, — 1889. 

Grand  Army  veterans  in  two  carriages. 

Committee  of  the  town  in  carriage. 

L.  Lincoln  &  Co.,  paper  manufacturers,  carriage  with  raw  ma- 
terial, carriage  with  manufactured  articles. 

E.  Almy,  loaded  wagon  representing  grocery  trade. 

School  Children  in  two  barges  and  carriage. 

C.  S.  Chace,  florist,  carriage  with  display  of  plants  in  bloom. 

J.  A.  Lewis,  carriage  with  nursery  stock  and  flowers. 

Dighton  Fruit  Growers  Association  in  six  carriages. 

C.  N.  Simmons,  boat  mounted  on  wheels  with  seine  and  fix- 
tures, representing  the  herring  fishery. 

BERKLEY,    INCORPORATED     T735. 

This  part  of  the  Division  formed  at  Burt's  corner,  in  Berkley,  and 

marched  to  Taunton  in  the  following  order,  where  it  joined 

the  rest  of  the  Division. 

Marshal,  Giles  L.  Leach. 

AIDS. 

Thomas  P.  PauU,  Jesse  P.  Leach. 

Cavalcade  of  fifty  horsemen  in  uniform,  the  horses  handsomely 
caparisoned,  with  colors  inscribed, 

"Berkley,  1735 — 1889." 

Captain,  Rollin  H.  Babbitt,  ist  Lieut.,  Charles  French, 

2d  Lieut.,  Thomas  F.  Burt,  3d  Lieut.,  Adelbert  Stone. 

Color-bearer,  James  F.  Clark. 

School  Children  and  Teachers  in  two  barges. 

The  Berkley  Gleaner,  carriage  with  editor  and  reporters. 

Eight  milk  wagons,  four  butcher  carts,  representing  the  milk 
and  meat  interests. 

C.  D.  Babbitt,  florist,  carriage  with  display  of  plants  and 
flowers. 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION.  151 


THIRD  DIVISION. 


This  entire  Division  was  furnished  by  the  town  of  Raynham,  once 
a  part  of  Taunton. 

RAVNHAM,    IXCORF'ORATED     I  73 1. 

The  following  Committee  of  the  Town  had  charge  of  the  dis- 
play, which  was  exceedingly  fine. 

Jesse  King,  Charles  B.  Gardiner,     Soranus  W.  Hall, 

Charles  H.  Lewis.     Charles  T.  Robinson,     Edward  F.  Leonard. 
Nathan  W.   Shaw,     Alexis  C.  Dean,  Joseph  R.  Presho. 

Edward  B.  Wilbur,     Damon  D.  White,  Elwyn  S.  Harlow, 

David  G.  Dean,        Cyrus  Leonard,  2d,         Edward  B.  King, 
Sidney  K.   B.   Perkins. 

The  Division  formed  at  Raynham  Centre,  and  marched  to 
Taunton,  where  it  joined  the  procession. 

Order  of  Division. 

The  Middleboro'  Brass  Band. 

Capt.  Chas.  T.  Robinson,  Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Soranus  W.  Hall.  Edward  B.  Wilbur,         Elwyn  S.   Harlow, 

Cyrus  Leonard,  2d,  Henry  H.  Robinson. 

Barge  containing  the  Town  Officers. 

Cavalry  Co.  A,*  Capt.  B.   B.  Cain. 

Cavalry  Co.  B,  Capt.  Frank  Williams. 

Floats  draw^n  by  oxen,  carrying  paintings  of  the  old  Anchor 
Forge,  the  old  Meeting  House,  the  Fowling  Pond,  the  ancient 
I^eonard  House,  the  Washburn  House,  also  a  team  carrying  a 
model  Anchor,  marked  5,500  pounds,  representing  the  business 
once  extensively  carried  on  at  the  Anchor  Forge. 

Team  carrying  "Old  Tobey,  "  a  cannon  used  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary \\ar,  now  owned  by  the  Tobias  Gilmore  families,  at  North 
Raynham. 

Children  of  the  public  schools  in  four  barges. 

D.  D.  White  &  Co.,  float,  with  men  and  women  at  work,  illus- 
trating the  process  of  manufacturing  shoes. 


l82  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

G,  B.  &  E.  Williams,  float,  illustrating    the  Herring  Fishery. 

The  Milk  Business  was  represented  by  the  teams  of  Dean 
Bros.,  Geo.  F.  Fletcher,  Jos.  H.  Gregory,  Jesse  King,  Job  G.  Rob- 
inson, Mervin  W.  Leonard. 

Nathan  W.  Shaw,  Barge,  representing  some  of  the  branches  of 
Market  Gardening. 

Bradford  D.  Snow,  Team  containing  curious  ancient  articles, 
very  useful  in  olden  times,  now  but  seldom  seen. 

M.  B.  Leonard,  load  of  sawdust,  a  product  of  the  saw  mills 

much  in  demand. 

Thirteen  yoke  of  large  Oxen  were  a  noticeable  feature  in  this 
display. 

FOURTH  DIVISION. 

Spary's  Military  Band,  W.  C.  Spary,  Leader. 
Abner  Coleman,  Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Benjamin  H.  Baker,       Jerome  B.  Mason,       Albert  L.  Carpenter. 

FIRE    DEPARTMENT    OF    THE    CITY    OF    TAUNTON. 

Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.  No.  i.;  Captain  D.  L.  Brownell. 
Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.  Niagara  No.  i.;  Captain  A.  F.  Sprague. 
Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.  Edward  Mott  No.  2.;  Captain  T.  C.  Lucas. 

Hose  Co.  No.  3. ;  Captain  William  H.  Cushman. 

Fire  Engine  Co.  Charles  Albro  No.  4  ;  Captain  H.  J.   Kingsley. 

Hose  Co.  No.  5,  Captain  T.  W.  Porter. 

Hose  Co.  No.  6,  Captain  E.  Francis. 

Hose  Co.  No.  8,  Captain  E.  Mallon. 

Veteran  Firemen,  under  command  of  Ex-Chief  Edward  Mott. 

Old  engines  "  Oregon,  "  "  Elizabeth  Poole,  "  "  Hancock,  " 

AJ'PARATUS. 

Hook  and  Ladder  No.  i,  Engine  No  i.  Hose  No.  i,  Engine  No,  2, 

Hose  No.  2,  Hose  No.  3,  Engine  No.  4,   Hose  No.  4, 

Hose  No.  5,  Supply  \vagon, 


TABLEAU  VIVANT. 

Elizabeth  Poole  Making  her  Purchase,  as  represented  on  the  City  Seal. 


TABLEAU  VIVANT. 
Capt.  Church  at  Anawan's  Rock. 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION.  183 

FIFTH   DIVISION. 
Captain  Z.  Sherman,    Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Henry  D.  White,  George  F.  Seaver  J.  Edward  Seaver, 

Lewis  B.   Hodges. 

Post  No.  3,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  100  men,  with  Continen- 
tal Drum  Corps,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 
Sons  of  Veterans,  General  Couch  Camp  No.  26,  50  men. 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  Patriarchs  Militant,  Canton  Cohannet,  No.  49,  30  men. 
Manchester    Unity,    I.  O.  O.   F.,    Friendship    Lodge,    No.    6429, 
150  men,  with  Taunton  City   Fife  and  Drum  Corps. 
Catholic  Total  Abstinence    and  Aid    Society,   100  men. 
Division    8,    Ancient    Order  of  Hibernians,    100   men,    with    the 
Fall  River  Fife  and  Drum  Corps. 
Y.  M.  C.  T.  A.  &  L.   Society,   100  men,  with  Carter's  Band. 
Whittenton  C.  T.   A.  8z  B.  Society,  60  men. 
Society  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  50  men,  with  Whittenton  Brass  Band. 
French  Naturalization  Club,  50  men. 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  barge. 
Taunton  Tennis  Association,  Tally-ho  Coach. 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Winnecunnet   Tribe,  No.  71,  under 
command  of  Sachem  Albert  S.  Eldridge. 
Order  of  the  Iron  Hall,  Branches  No.  439,  473,  607,  612. 

SIXTH    DIVISION. 

Hill's  New  Bedford  Brass  Band,  George  Hill,  Leader. 

Capt.  William  R.  Black,  Assistant  Marshal. 

aids. 

William  F.  Bodtish,  George  E.  Dean,  Herbert  Fisher. 

Representations    of    Various    Branches  of  Business  in  the  City  of 

Taunton. 


1 84 


QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


The  Butchers'  Association,  50  Men  in  Uniform. 
Trades  Wagons,  Nos.  i  to  50. 


EXHIBITORS. 


A.  White  &  Co. 
L,  H.  Goward. 
Geo.  E.  Packard. 
Geo.  Williams. 
Alfred  Boardman. 
A.  O.  Packard. 
P.  Williams  &  Co. 
W.  F.  Bodfish  &  Co. 
Reilly  Bros. 
Ingell  &  Clapp. 


Cobb,  Bates  &  Yerxa. 
M.  J.  Gammons  &  Co. 
Gifford  &  Trafton. 
A.  J.  Pierce. 
Frank  Beaulieu. 
Eustus  C.  Bassett  &  Co. 
Geo.  T.  Bullock. 
Henry  Paling. 
Hamilton   Parker. 
Geo.  W.  Parker. 


Robert  Coutts. 

SEVENTH   DIVISION. 

Major  Joseph  J.  Cooper,  Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Capt.  Zeba  F.  Bliss,  Charles  T.  Williams.  G.  A.  Babbitt. 

Weir  Stove  Company,  150  men  in  line,  with  Drum  Corps. 

Floats  and   Wagons  representing  the    Manufactures  of  Taunton, 

Nos.  50  to  100. 

EXHIBITORS. 

Brick  Makers  Asso. 
Presbrey  Stove  Lining  Co. 
Union  Stove  Lining  Co. 


Mason   Machine  Works, 
nighton  Furnace  Co. 
PhoenixjMfg.  Co. 
Peck  &  White. 
Reed  &  Barton. 
J.  H.  Sproat. 
Taunton  Crucible  Co. 
A.  Field  &  Co. 


Taunton  Copper  Mfg.  Co. 

Brovvnell  &  Burt. 

Elizabeth  Poole  Mills. 

No.  Dighton  Co-op.  Stove  Co. 

W^est  Silver  Co. 

The  New  Process  Twist  1  )rill  Co. 

John  B.  Sullivan. 

H.  A.  Williams  eS^  Co. 

Leonard  Co-op.  Foundry  Co. 

S.  A.  Dudley. 

Barker  &  Mason. 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION. 


185 


Strange's  Machine  Works.  Whittenton  Mfg.  Co. 

I.  A.  McDonald. 


EIGHTH    DIVISION. 
Philander  Williams,  Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Lyman  Mason,  John  H.  Eldridge,  Henry  N.  Hopkins. 

Representations  of  the  'I'rades  and  Business  of  Taunton. 
Trades  Wagons,   Nos.  100  to  150. 

EXHIBITORS. 

Staples  Coal  Co.  Jos.  Peltier. 

Briggs  &  Co.  M.  A.  Cleary. 

Nelson  Mallet.  Clark  Bros. 

N.  Crapo  &  Bro.  Wm.  R.  Black. 

Manter  Bros.  A.  Milot. 

W.  H.  Chase.  Centennial  Tea  Co. 

P.  Coyle.  L.  E.  Leonard  Heirs. 

Quigley  Bros.  R.  H.  White. 
Dr.  C.  W.  Gregory. 

NINTH    DIVISION. 

Martland's  Band  of  Brockton,  Mace  Gay,  Leader. 
Wm.   H.  Lewis,  Assistant  Marshal. 

AIDS. 

Bradford  D.  Albro,  W.   H.  Gatifney.  George  F.  Story. 

Representations  of  the  Trades  and  Business  of  Taunton. 

Trades  Wagons.  Nos.  150  to  200. 


Colby's  Clothing  House. 
Taunton  Clothing  Co. 
N.  H.  Skinner  &  Co. 
F.  W.  Ganong. 
Davenport  &  Mason. 
Thos.  O.  Falvey. 
W,  N.  &  M.  G.  Smith. 


EXHIBITORS. 

Hunter  Bros. 

Fred.  A.  Jones. 

Soule  Piano  Co. 

Chas.  VV.  Coops. 

H.  L.  Davis  &  Co. 

Thos.  Cusick  &  Sons. 

Morton  Bros.  Steam  Laundrv 


t86      quarter  millennial  celebration. 

W.  L.  Presbrey.  John  D.  Robinson  &  Co. 

Chas.  H.  Washburn.  Peter  H.  Corr. 

Pierce  Hardware  Co.  C.  Coleman. 

Sanborn  &  Pye.  Taunton  Lumber  Co. 

P.  H.  Kiernan.  H.  A.  Dickerman. 

B.  Kiernan.  J.  Hayden. 

Dunbar's  Drug  Store.  U.  M.  Haskins. 
Geo.  F.  Williams. 

formation  of  procession. 

The  first  division  formed  on  Summer  street,  right  resting  on 
Main  street,  at  Cedar  street. 

The  second  division  formed  on  Dean  and  Main,  right  resting 
on  Main  at  Union. 

The  third  division  formed  on  Dean,  right  resting  on  Dean  at 
O.  C.  R.  R.  crossing. 

The  fourth  division  formed  on  School,  right  resting  on  Main. 

The  fifth  division  formed  on  Spring  and  Bow,  right  resting  on 
Spring  at  Summer. 

The  sixth  division  formed  on  Broadway,  right  resting  on 
Broadway  at  City  Square. 

The  seventh  division  formed  on  Cedar,  right  resting  on  Cedar 
at  Main. 

The  eighth  division  formed  on  Weir  and  High  east  of  Weir, 
right  resting  on  Weir  at  City  Square. 

The  right  of  the  ninth  division  formed  on  Court,  resting  on 
Court  at  City  Square,  and  the  left  of  this  division  formed  on 
Crocker  Square,  and  Cohannet,  west  of  Crocker  Square,  with  right 
resting  on  Crocker  Square  at  City  Square. 

route  of   procession. 

Main  at  Cedar  street, -City  Square,  north  side,-Winthrop,- 
High,-Weir,-West  Water,-Second, -Somerset  avenue, -Webster,- 
Harrison  avenue, -Harrison, -Win throp.- High, -Washington, -Pleas- 
ant,-Broad  way, -Washington, -Grant,-  Cedar,-Fruit, -Union, -Main. 
-Spring,-Summer,-Main,-City  Square. 


TABLEAU  VIVANT. 
The  Puritan  Parson,  a  Leader  of  liis  People. 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION.  187 

The  procession  completed  its  march  and  reached  City 
Hall  on  its  return  at  about  three  o'clock,  where  it  passed  in 
review  before  the  Chief  Marshal  and  his  Aids,  Distinguished 
Guests,  His  Honor  the  Mayor  and  the  City  Government  ; 
after  which  the  several  Divisions  as  they  arrived  at  points 
previously  designated,  left  the  procession  and  were  dismissed 
in  perfect  order,  so  that  all  confusion  was  avoided. 

Nothing  occurred  on  the  route  to  mar  the  complete  suc- 
cess and  enjoyment  of  the  parade. 

The  immense  crowds  that  thronged  City  Square  were 
entertained  in  the  afternoon  by  the  playing  of  the  bands, 
which  were  stationed  at  different  points  on  the  Common. 

The  Celebration  closed  with  a  grand  disi)lay  of  fire 
works  in  the  evening  at  Agricultural  Park,  furnished  by 
Hyde  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  who  superintended  the  exhibition 
under  the  general  direction  of  the  committee  on  fire  works. 
In  addition  to  the  usual  display  of  rockets,  Roman  candles, 
mines,  &c.,  the  following  set  pieces  were  presented  : 

Welcome, 

Etoile  Magique. 

Wheel  of  Prometheus. 

(Crown  with  date  1639.  |^ 
I  Flags         "         "       1889.  i 

Constellation. 

Buying    the    Land, — Indian  Figures   with    Elizabeth  Pole. 

Portrait  Gen'l  Cobb,  and  Motto. 

Polka    Pyramid. 

Falls  of    Niagara. 

City  Seal. 

It  was  an  extremely  satisfactory  exhibition  and  reflected 
great  credit  upon  the  committee  having  the  matter  in  charge. 


1 88  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

No  satisfactory  estimate  can  be  made  of  the  number  of 
people  who  were  present  to  witness  this  closing  performance. 
It  has  been  variously  placed  at  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand, 
and  even  more. 

But  when  the  brilliant  display  was  over,  the  vast  assem- 
blage dispersed  quietly  and  peaceably,  as  became  the  descend- 
ants and  successors  of  the  venerated  colonists  of    1639. 

And  so  ended  our  Quarter  Millennial  Celebration. 


FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

Occupying  Site  of  the  First  Church  Erected  in  Taunton. 


DONATION  AND  LOAN  EXHIBITION 

In  Histopjcal  Hall. 


At  a  meeting"  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  250th  An- 
niversary Celebration,  in  City  Hall,  Feb.  23d,  1889,  a  vote 
was  passed,  that  Historical  Hall  be  opened  for  the  reception 
of  portraits,  articles  and  relics  of  historic  interest,  for  the 
entertainment  of  visitors  during  the  days  and  evenings  of 
the  anniversary,  and  the  following  Committee  was  chosen  to 
carry  the  vote  into  effect,  viz  :  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Mr. 
J.  F.  Montgomery,  Mrs.  R.  Henry  Hall,  Mrs.  S.  R.  Town- 
send,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Lovering,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Sanford,  Mrs.  Fred- 
erick Mason,  Mrs.  Thompson  Newbury,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Jackson, 
Mrs.  George  Brabrook,  Mrs.  N.  E.  Baylies,  Mrs.  Chas.  L. 
Lovering,  Mrs.  Walter  J.  Clemson,  Miss  Adeline  S.  Baylies, 
Miss  Sarah  B.  Williams,  and  two  ladies  from  each  of  the  six 
towns  of  ancient  Taunton,   and  John  W.  D.  Hall,  Chairman. 

In  compliance  with  the  foregoing  action  the  chairman 
called  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  in  Historical  Hall,  Mav 
6th,  for  conference,  relative  to  obtaining  portraits,  ancient 
relics,  &c.,  for  exhibition  during  the  contemplated  celebra- 
tion, June  4th   and   5th. 

At  this  meeting  Taunton,  Norton,  Dighton.  Eastoii, 
Raynham  and   Berkley  were  represented   bv  ladies  enthusi- 


190  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

astic  in  the  cause  of  the  celebration.  The  proceedings  were 
introduced  in  a  brief  address  by  the  chairman  : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  We  are  called  together  for  a 
pleasing,  not  an  irksome  duty.  Men  have  been  making  prepa- 
rations for  months  to  inaugurate  a  celebration  worthy  the 
occasion — the  250th  natal  day  of  our  ancient  pilgrim  town. 

Now  the  women  propose  to  take  action  in  a  modest,  less 
conspicuous  way  to  honor  the  day  and  entertain  visitors  who 
may  gather  here  during  the  anniversary,  and  wish  to  enjoy  a 
quiet  rest  from  the  jostling  crowd  out  of  doors,  during  the 
day  and  evening.  This  hall  was  appropriately  selected  for 
that  purpose.  Three  women  donated  1^500  each  for  mem- 
bership to  consummate  the  enterprise,  by  securing  the  hall 
for  memorial  and  historical  purposes.  This  thoughtful  gen- 
erosity of  women  is  of  rare  record. 

As  this  hall  is  forever  dedicated  to  the  above  objects,  it 
is  proposed,  with  the  advice  and  co-operation  of  women,  to 
secure  the  donation  or  loan  of  memorial  portraits  to  be  placed 
upon  these  walls,  of  revered  men  and  women  who  have  passed 
away,  that  they  may  look  down  upon  us  with  favor  and  bene- 
diction. Three  of  our  lady  members  have  recently  passed 
away  and  we  hope  to  have  their  portraits,  in  memoriam. 

Also,  rare  memorial  relics,  which  have  been  carefully 
laid  away  for  years,  are  solicited  for  the  same  historic,  in- 
structive purpose.  All  donations  and  loans  will  be  duly  re- 
corded and  safely  cared  for.  This  is  a  brief  key  note  to  our 
proceedings.      Rev.  S.  H.  Emery,  was  elected  Secretary. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  two  ladies 
from  each  ward  and  two  from  each  town,  to  solicit  donations 
and  loans,  and  they  proceeded  to  work  with  alacrity,  worthy 
the  contemplated  object. 

Ample  arrangements  were  made  in  due  season  for  the 
contemplated  exhibition,  and  on  the    ist  and  3d  of  June  the 


DONATION    ANr3    LOAN    EXHIBIT.  19! 

exhibitors  began  to  throng  Historical  Hall  with  their  dona- 
tions and  loans,  from  the  several  wards  of  the  city  and  adjoin- 
ing "daughter  towns.  "  The  subjoined  reports  in  detail  com- 
prise the  donations  and  loan  exhibits  on  the  days  of  the  cele- 
bration. 

PORTRAITS    DONATED. 

Washington — full  size  copy  of  Stuart's  painted  60  years  ago, — by 

Bristol  County  Nat.  Bank. 
Francis  Baylies, — by  John  Ordronaux,  LL.  D.,  N.  Y. 
Edmund  Baylies, — by  Mrs.  Nathalie  E.  Baylies. 
Judge  Laban  Wheaton, — by  Mrs.  Eliza  B.  Wheaton,  Norton. 
John  Daggett,  late  Pres't. — by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  G.  Sheffield. 
Dr.  Alfred  Baylies, — by  Mrs.  Frances  A.  Baylies. 
Samuel  L.  Crocker, — by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  D.  N.  Couch. 
William  Allen  Crocker, — by  his  son,  Geo.  A.  Crocker,  N.  Y. 
Harrison  Tweed, — by  his  son,  Charles   H.  Tweed,   N.  Y. 
Dr.  Ebenezer  Dawes, — by  his  son,  Rev.  E.  Dawes,  Lakeville. 
Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  D.  D., — by  Mrs.  Graham. 
Dr.  Dan  King, — by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Alex'r  H.  Williams. 
Samuel  O.  Dunbar, — by  Chas.  A.   Moore,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 
Maj.  Gen'l.  G.  H.  Crosman, — by  his  son,  J.  H.  Crosman,  N.  Y. 
Willard  Lovering, — by  his  sons,  Charles  L.,  William  C,  and 

Henry  M.  Lovering. 
Robert  Strobridge  Dean,  (from  Hunter's  easel.) 
H,  B.  Wetherell, — by  his  brother,  H.  W.  Wetherell,  Chicago. 
Abraham  Lincoln, — by  Harlus  W.  Wetherell,  Chicago. 
Daniel  Webster, —     "         "       "  " 

Chas.  Richmond, — by  his  son,  Capt.  Henry  Richmond,  N.  Y. 
Albert  Field, — by  his  son,  William  T.  Field. 
Mrs.  Abigail  (Tisdale)  Trescott, — by  E.  D.  Tisdale. 
Joseph  Dean, — by  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 
Timothy  G.  Coffin, — by  Hon.  E.  L.  Barney,  New  Bedford. 
Silas  Shepard, — by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Lewis  R.  Chesbrough- 
Elias  Strange, — by  his  son,  Emerson  C.   Strange. 
Ben.  P'ranklin,  in  Fr.  court  dress,  1785, — by  J.  W.  D.   Hall. 


9 

10 
1 1 
12 
^3 
14 

15 
16 

'7 

18 
19 

20 
21 

22 

23 

24 

25 
26 


192  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

27.  Horatio  Leonard, — by  Mrs.  B.  Franklin  Dean,  Raynham. 

28.  Dr.  Zephaniah  Leonard, — by  Gustavus  Dean,  " 

29.  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery, — by  Gilbert  R.  Manter. 

30.  Frederic  Crafts, — by  Mrs.  H.  W.  Crafts,  Abington. 

31.  Charles  Sumner,— by  J.  W.  D.  Hall. 

32.  Washington  and  his  Generals, — by  H.  W.  Wetherell,  Chicago. 

33.  Webster  and  the  Statesmen  of  1850, — by  the  above         '• 

34.  John  Bradford  Williams, — by  Mrs.   M.  J.  Hammond. 

35.  Washington  and   Henry  Clay, — by  J.  W.  D.  Hall. 

36.  California  Pioneers  of  New  England, — by  Gen.  Samuel  A. 

Chapin,  Norton. 
View  of  residences  north  and  east  of  the  Green,  100  years  ago, — 

by  S.  A.  Williams. 
Original  deed  of  "Taunton  North    Purchase"    1689 — signed    by 

Gov.  Wm.    Bradford,  only  one  extant. 
Original  deed  of  200  acres  territory  to  Captains  Thomas  and  James 

Leonard  for  the  Chartley  forge,   1696 — origin  of  Norton. 
Deed  of  Dighton  Rock. — procured  by  Niels  Arnzen. 

PHOTOGRAPHS PORTRAITS. 

Mrs.  Frances  Baylies,  Mrs.  Harriet  Baylies  Morton,  Nathaniel 
Morton,  John  Ordronaux,  LL.  D.,  Mrs.  Peddy  (Leonard)  Bowen, 
a  medallion, — all  by  Mrs.  L.  M.   S.   Moulton,  Roslyn,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Caleb  Barnum, — by  Mrs.  Ann  S.  B,  Vickery. 

Sam'l  Caswell, — by  his  grand  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  Billings. 

Alexis  Caswell,  ex-pres't  Brown  University, — by  same. 

Henry  G.  Reed,     Edmund  H.  Bennett,— by  Rev.  S.  H.   Emery. 

Isaac  Babbitt, — by  Emerson  C.  Strange. 

Col.  J.  Sullivan  Lincoln, — by  Miss  Ellen  Lincoln. 

Leonard-Padelford  Mansion,— by  E.  E.  Leonard. 

William  Rotch  mansion,-view  of  Union  St.,  New  Bedford,  in 
1800, — by  W.  Macfarlane. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  exhibitors  and  articles  exhi- 
bited :  from — 

WAKI)    ONE. 

Mrs.  David  Wastcoat — silver  tankard,  silver  porringer,  silver 
sugar  tongs  150  years  old;  silver  snuff  box  date  of  1771;   a  candle. 


DONATION-     AM)     LOAN     I-:\  II 1 1!  I'l".  I93 

Stick  which  was  used  on  a  table  at  which  Gen.  Washington  sat;  a 
china  coffee  pot,  a  laughing  cup,  a  glass  punch  bowl,  a  tumbler, 
two  pictures  150  years  old.  All  these  articles  formerly  belonged 
to  the  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Wastcoat. 

Mrs.  Martin  J.  Lincoln — an  old  chair. 

Isaac  W.  Wilcox — an  old  stand,  a  foot  stove  and  warming 
pan,  a  calash,  three  pewter  porringers,  one  bowl,  two  mugs,  six 
small  silver  spoons,  formerly  belonging  to  the  Wetherell  family;  a 
large  silver  spoon  formerly  belonging  to  the  Ingell  family,  each 
article  over  a  century  old. 

Mrs.  Charles  Husband — a  small  table  over  a  hundred  years 
old,  formerly  owned  by  Miss  Abigail  Foster;  a  sampler  wrought  by 
Mrs.  Husband  in  1821;  picture  of  first  steam  cars  used  in  America. 

Mrs.  Nathan  Pratt — a  silhouette  of  her  father.  Deacon  Asahel 
Bliss. 

Mrs.  J.  A.  Peckham — miniatures  on  ivory,  of  her  father  and 
mother,  Eliab  W.  Metcalf  and  Mrs.  Lydia  (Steadman)  Metcalf. 

Mrs.  Abram  Briggs — an  ancient  chair. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Wilcox — two  platters  and  three  creamers,  each 
over  150  years  old,  a  plaid  cloak  97  j-ears  old. 

George  A.  King — a  flint  lock  gun  used  in  the  war  of  18 12, 
andirons. 

Mrs.  Herbert  Pierce — spinning  wheel,  a  bunch  of  flax,  a  pair 
of  snuffers. 

Mrs.  J.  A.  Peck — picture  of  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Abigail 
(Leonard)  White,  an  old  mirror,  200  years  old, -bought  in  Paris. 

Mrs.  Dexter  Horton — pair  of  wine  glasses. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Goff — an  old  picture,  "The  Age  of  Man." 

Mrs.  John  Blake — sword  used  in  war  of  1812.  enrollment  list. 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Bartlett — a  portrait  of  her  great  grandmother,  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Stephen  Hull,  a  former  minister  of  Raynham. 

Miss  Alice  Grossman — a  silver  spoon.  150  years  old,  a  china 
cup  and  saucer. 

Mrs.  Elias  A.  ^lorse — a  picture  of  the  old  E^lliot  house,  which 
stood  opposite  Music  Hall. 

Mrs,  M.  Babbitt — a  home  made  linen  towel. 


194  OUARTKK    MII.I.F.NXIAT.    CELKF'.K  ATIOX. 

Mrs.  R.  Temple — a  pair  of  satin  slippers,  a  cenliiry  old,  a 
reticule,  a  beaded  bag. 

Mrs.  Edward  'I'empte — pitcher,  150  years  old,  ancient  looking 
glass,  a  foot  stove. 

The  Misses  Husband — oil  painting  of  Mr.  Charles  Husband 
at  the  age  of  15,  a  portrait  of  the  samp  at  60. 

Miss  M.  Wilson — home  made  linen,  a  striped  blanket. 

Mrs.  Edward  Mott — warming  pan.  pitcher,  two  silhouettes. 

James  E.  Wilmarth — picture  of  the  old  C'ohannet  Tavern. 

Miss  Ellen  Lusconib — an  oil  painting  of  Mrs.  Mary  J.  (  Has- 
kans)  Lincoln. 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Ashley — two  ancient  pictures,  of  Christ  and  his 
mother. 

Mrs.  N.  Paige — a  platter,   a  plate. 

Mrs.  Job  Crossman —  a  very  old  silver  spoon. 

Mrs.  R.  H.  Hall — a  mortar  and  pestle,  linen  table  cloth,  three 
silhouettes,  a  coffee  pot,  china  tea  caddy,  two  pewter  plates,  two 
china  plates,  a  brown  platter,  a  wooden  l)owl,-each  article  o\er 
100  years  old. 

P.  Williams — picture  of  the  "Old  Hall  Homestead,"  Dean  St. 

Mrs.  Philander  Williams — coffee  pot,  plate,  water  pot,  large 
tumbler  of  Howered  glass,  foot  stove,  each  over  100  years  old; 
infant's  dress  embroidered  in  1828;  a  picture  in  memory  of  Paul 
Leonard,  who  died  in  1814. 

Miss  Phebe  Robinson — a  picture,  worked  in  silk,  in  memory 
of  a  child  of  Ephraim  Raymond  and  Polly,  his  wife;  a  chair  So 
years  old,  a  platter  with  boat. 

Mrs.  John  W.  Dixon — a  coffee  pot,  over  100  years  old,  a  sugar 
bowl,  two  tea  pots,  plates,  glass  decanter,  100  years  old;  cup  and 
saucer,  fruit  dish,  a  platter,  each  very  old;  an  old  portmanteau, 
picture  of  Leigh  Richmond  and  John  \Ve.sley. 

Mrs.  1).  S.  King — three  ancient  books. 

John  C.  Walker — a  portrait  of  his  father.  Joseph  Walker. 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Lincoln — six  old  plates,  two  silver  spoons, 
over  100  years  old;  an  old  pitcher,  a  mustard  jar,  pinich  tumbler, 
plate  and  platter,  each  over  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  Robert  Crossman — an  account  book  of   1767. 


noNATiox   AM)   i.oAx    I'.xiiiiiir.  195 

Mrs.  Charles  A.  Hathaway — :Coat  of  arms  of  Hathaway  family. 

.Misses  Ann  K.  and  Elizabeth  A.  Dean — plate,  cup,  and  sau- 
cer, formerly  belonf^ing  to  their  grandmother.  Mrs.  Amy  (  l-'rancis) 
Walker,  and  each  over  a  century  old. 

Geo.  H.  Park —  a  cane,  belonging;  to  the  Stephens  family,  in 
1730;  worked  pocket,  over  140  years  old,  tiie  Bible  of  Samuel  Ste- 
phens, printed  in  1762,  the  agreement  concerning  the  Mill  privi- 
lege at  N.  Dighton. 

L.  C.  Porter — Anti-Ma.sonic  medal  of  1806. 

Arthur  E.  Park — horn  pepper  bo.x,  over  a  century  old. 

John  V.  Park — warrant  for  collection  of  state  tax  of  'I'aunton 
'11  1754- 

Frederic  W.  Park — portrait  of  his  grandfather,  Capt.  Richard 
Park,  of  Westville. 

Miss  Mary  J.  Walsh — homespun  linen,  150  years  old. 

Miss  Alice  C".  Walsh — prayer  book  of   1735,  arithmetic,  1716. 

L.  F.  Dary — an  almanack,  1779,  a  Bible,  1792. 

Mrs.  John  E.  DeBlois — a  dictionary  of  1600  to  1700,  Bible 
printed  in  1715,  sampler  wrought  by  Miss  Scott  in  1741,  coat  of 
arms  wrought  in  silk  in  1763.  three  pieces  of  china  ware  over  200 
years    old,  three  pieces  of  china  ware    130  years  old. 

Mrs.  Edward  Bliss — cotTee  pot,  plate,  and  cup,  made  in  China 
for  her  grandfather,  over  100  years  ago. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Bates — a  platter,  over  100  years  old,  formerly 
belonging  to  Mrs.  Abigail  (White)  Babbitt,  her  grandmother. 

Mrs.  John  Lovell — cup  and  saucer,  over  100  years  old.  a  plate, 
formerly  belonging  to  Gov.  John  Hancock. 

Mrs.  Isaiah  Crowell — a  sun  glass,  150  years  old.  a  skirt,  spun 
and  woven  by  her  grandmother,  a  century  ago. 

Mrs.  McCrillis — a  book  "Parable  of  the  ten  virgins. '"  printed 
in  1695. 

Mrs.  Mary  I.  Richmond — a  chair.  150  years  old,  formerly  the 
property  of  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Richmond,  and  originally  belonging 
to  Judge  Sam'l  Tobey,  of  Berkley. 

Mrs.  Albert  I).  Davol — a  chair  and  tinder  box,  each  over  ico 
years  old. 


196  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Mrs.  George  F.  Seaver — a  white  bedspread,  pink  bedquilt, 
linen  sheets,  pillow  cases  and  towels,  pair  of  ear  rings,  two  brass 
candlesticks,  silver  knee  buckles,  silver  spoons,  a  tin  lantern,  em- 
broidered pocket  books,  chain, -each  article  a  century  old;  two 
china  cups  120  years  old;  glass  castor  and  vinegar  cruet  each  150 
years  old,  two  dolls  90  years  old,  sampler  85  years  old,  sampler 
91  years  old,  two  portraits  65  years  old,  lace  and  muslin  embroid- 
ery from  55  to  70  years  old;  a  Poem,  written  in  1772,  a  sermon, 
in  1792,  three  books  of  1746,-1763,-1797:  two  silk  dresses  60 
years  old. 

Mrs.  Shubael  Bliss — bedspread,  spun  and  woven  by  her  great, 
great  grandmother,  over  100  years  ago. 

Miss  Ann  E.  Wilmarth — platter,  125  years  old,  pewter  porrin- 
ger 100  years  old,  formerly  belonging  to  Mrs,  Mary  Keith,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Samuel  O.  Dunbar;  the  sword  carried  by  her  father 
Learned  Wilmarth,  when  captain  of  Norton  Artillery,  and  his 
portrait. 

Mrs.  Jeremiah  J.  Whitmarsh —  a  scarf  which  was  brought 
from  the  East  Indies  by  Capt.  Robert  Whitmarsh  of  Dighton  and 
is  about  150  years  old;  sampler,  wrought  by  Sally  Talbot  of  Digh- 
ton,-daughter  of  Seth  Talbot,   105  years  ago. 

Mrs.  A.  C.  Brownell — portraits  of  her  father  and  mother, 
Lemuel  M.  Leonard  and  Mrs.  Mary  L.  (Babbitt)  Leonard;  a  stand- 
ing stool,  over  100  years  old  used  by  the  ancestors  of  Mr.  A.  C. 
Brownell,  a  chair  106  years  old,  formerly  belonging  to  her  great 
grandmother,  Mrs.  Bathsheba  (Luscomb)  Babbitt. 

Mrs.  Francis  B.  Perry — silver  dollar  1797,  an  iron  pipe, 
brought  from  England  225  years  old,  seven  pieces  of  china  ware 
over  a  century  old,  miniature  of  Capt.  Solomon  T.  Hallett  of  Yar- 
mouth, painted  in  1822  in  France,  a  "Zion's  Herald"  of  1828;  a 
poem  by  Christopher  Smart,  copied  from  the  Providence  Patriot  of 
June   14,  1820. 

Miss  C.  A.  Luscomb — two  ancient  bonnets. 

Mrs.  J.  Alfred  Messinger — two  tea  spoons,  coffee  mug,  plate 
over  150  years  old. 

Mrs.  Hugh  Cunningham —  a  cup,  saucer,  and  creamer,  each 
150  years  old,  formerly  the  property  of  Galen  Hicks. 


DONA  ri()\   AM)   LOAN   i:\  1 1  niii'.  197 

I'.  If.  Pickens — compass  and  chain,  100  years  old,  made  and 
used  by  Silas  Pickens. 

Fred.  A.  Pickens — watch    106  years  old,   a  box  193  years  old. 

(ieorge  A.  Washburn — portrait  of  his  grandfather  Isaac  Wash- 
burn;  a  drummer's  coat,  worn  in  the  war  of   18 13. 

Mrs.  N.  J.  Crossnian — portrait  of  Learned  J.  Wilmarth,  her 
father. 

Mrs.  Edgar  G.  Blandiug —  portrait  of  her  father.  Rev.  Horace 
Seaver,  a  satin  picture  wrought  by  her  mother,  Mrs.  Louisa  (Loth- 
rop)  Seaver. 

Miss  Maria  W.  Nichols — portraits  of  her  father  and  mother, 
James  M.  Nichols  and  Mrs.  Eliza  (Worsley)  Nichols. 

John  F.  Montgomery — an  ancient  sun  glass,  used  by  Nicho- 
las Roche  to  light  his  pipe:  money  scales,  used  by  the  same  over 
100  years  ago:  a  carved  busk;  silver  spoons  that  belonged  to  John 
Montgomery,  who  came  from  Scotland  17 14;  a  pocket  belonging 
to  the  great  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Wm    H.  Phillips. 

().  L.  Merriam — a  rare  engraving  "The  Politician"  by  Ho. 
ganh;  "The  Jocund  Peasants,"  by  DuSant-brought  from  England 
l)y  Mr.  Jacques,  the  donator  of  Worcester  Hospital. 

George  E.  Manning — ancient  books,  two  of  them  over  150 
years  old,  the  others  about  80  years  old. 

George  W.  Colby — portrait  of  his  father.  Samuel  Golby. 

J.  J.  Cooper — a  cane,  made  from  a  part  of  Fort  DuQuesnc. 
which  was  built  in  1753. 

Miss  Anna  I).  Reed— a  china  tea  cadd\-,  which  once  belonged 
to  her  great  grandmother,  Mrs.  Abraham  Dennis,  and  afterwards 
to  her  great  aunt,  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Dennis)  Padelford,  wife  of  Judge 
Seth  Padelford:  a  pair  of  brass  andirons,  which  belonged  to  her 
mother.  Mrs.  Wm.  Reed. 

WARD    TWO. 

Mrs.  I).  S.  Elliot —  copy  of  "  Hoston  (iazette, "  Oct.  10,  1757: 
a  pewter  drinking  cup  for  invalids,  a  pewter  porringer,  a  pair  of 
pointed  slippers  125  years  old. 

Joseph  E.  Wilbar — portrait  of  his  father  Dea.  Joseph  Wilbar. 

Harrv  A.  Holmes — an  ancient  shawl. 


198  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEHRATION. 

Capt.  Alden  H.  Blake — the  eonmiission  ol  Kdward  Blake, 
gentleman,  ensign  of  the  company  of  (apt.  Sanuiel  Williams. 
issued  by  Gov.  Jonathan  Belcher,  1737. 

Charles  Emerson  Strange — portrait  of  his  grandfather  Klias 
Strange. 

Mrs.  ¥.  A.  Brown — a  tea  pot,  over   100  years  old. 

Mrs.  Nancy  H.  Hood — linen  vest  106  years  oUl,  lady's  out- 
side ]50cket,  90  years  old. 

Miss  H.  Swasey — a  christening  robe  200  years  old,  foot  stove. 
over  100  years  old,  a  mandolin,  a  tbnt  box. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Cordner — pewter  plate  141  years  old,  pewter 
sugar  bowl,  a  copy  of  the  "Connecticut  Gazette,"  1788,  silver  shoe 
buckle. 

William  Bosworth — pewter  platter,  pewter  porringer,  lantern, 
horn  comb  case,  china  platter,  each  over  100  years  f)ld;  old  trunk, 
hammer  40  years  f)ld,  a  bed  wrench  in  use  50  years  ago,  rule  40 
years  old,  razor  and  strap  90  years  old,  shuttles  for  hand  weav- 
ing, spectacles  80  years  old,  tinder  box  75  years  old,  tobacco 
;^7,  years  old.  house  pocket  book  90  years  old.  tea  pot  75  years 
old;  old  coins,  two  wine  bottles  which  came  from  England  in  1780; 
continental  currency,  1776-1778;  Portuguese  coin,  1795;  Wash- 
ington Medal  1799  and  a  coin  of  1700,  both  found  in  ruins  of 
"Knotty  walk"  building;  books  of  1751  and  1790,  pamphlets  from 
1793  to  1843,  newspapers  from  1793  to  1844,  coarse  Hax,  yarn  spun 
from  Hax;  timber  pins  and  hand  made  nails,  trom  "Knotty  walk" 
building,  a  cane  made  from  wood  of  same. 

Bristol  ("ounty  Nat'l  Bank — portrait  of  Theodore  Dean. 

Broadway  Church — portraits  of  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby  and 
1  lezekiah  W.  Church. 

Mrs.  Morse — portraits  of  her  parents. -Laban  Eddy  and  Mrs. 
Clara  Cook  Eddy. 

Mrs.  W.  J.  ikeed — portrait  of  her  father  Jesse  Smith. 

Mrs.  Walter  J.  Clemson — portrait  of  her  father  William  Ma- 
son, a  hurdy-gurdy  made  by   him  when  15  years  old. 

Heirs  of  jared  Sparks — a  desk  used  at  tfie  first  Congress,  1  7S9. 

Mrs.  G.  R.  Huntley — portrait,  Isaac  Babbitt — donated. 


DOXA'I'IOX     AND     LOAN     I.MIM'.n.  I99 

WAKI)     111  REE. 

Mrs.  CX  S.  I'aige — ancient  "New  England  Memorial;"  needle 
work,  wrouf^ht  by  Miss  Esther  Stephens,  in  1780;  two  cut  glass 
dishes,  owned  bv  Rev.  Nathaniel  l'"isher,  first  minister  of  Dijihtoii 
1710;  a  book  owned  by  Edmund  Andrews,  of  'I'aunton,  in  1725: 
stays,  worn  by  Miss  Susanna  Lincoln,  on  her  weddin<^r  day.  Jan. 
14.  1779:  a  chinn  plate  and  a  book,  each  133  years  old  and  belonj;- 
inu;  t  o  the  same. 

.Miss  (  arolinc  W.  (  randell — portrait  of  her  L:;reat  i;rand. 
mother,  Mrs.  Abi<;ail  (  Kariingt(jn-Weatherby)  Johnson;  three  tea 
spoons  formerly  belonging  to  the  Weatherby  family;  pictures  of 
Eailh  and  Charity,  published  in  London,  1799. 

.Mrs.    Thomas   E^llery — ancient   tea   pot,   sugar   bowl,  creamer. 

A.  E.  firagg — china  punch  bowl  over  180  years  old. 

Mrs.  William  H.  (randell — miniature  of  her  father,  (  harles 
Wcatherbv,   born  1778,  died  1812. 

Mrs.  Helen  J5.  Crane — a  silver  dollar  which  went  through  the 
"great  tire"  of  1838,  three  silver  spoons,  wooden  mug,  pewter  dish. 
150  vears  old.  wine  glass  over  100  years  old. 

.Miss  .Mercy  M.  Hathaway — almanack  of  1772,  sampler,  his- 
lory  of  King  Philip's  war,  infant's  wardrobe. 

lleni\-  M.  L()\ering — a  portrait  of  his  grandfather,  (jo\-.  Mar- 
cus .Morton. 

Elisha  C.  Clark,  New  Bedford, — portrait,  Leonard-Padelford 
m.uision,  east  Court  House — donated. 

WARD    I'OUK. 

Miss  Sarah  15.  \\'illiams — a  table  cloth  spun  by  hand,  a  ring, 
each  of  these  have  been  in  Car\er  family  over  100  \ears;  cup  and 
saucer,  a  plale  150  years  old,  continental  currency,  •775-7(>.  for- 
merly belonging  to  Capt.  Geo.  Williams;  book,  printed  during  the 
reign  of  (ieorge  the  Second;  book  of  sermons  1638,  an  account 
of  coronation  of  Charles  the  Second,  Jan.  i,  1651,  ancient  docu- 
ments belonging  in  the  Williams  familv:  two  paper  knives  made 
from  the  timber  of  the  first  meeting  house  in  Taunton;  home  made 
towel,  formerly  belonging  to    Mrs.   Jean  (Gordon)  Strobridge;  cu|) 


200  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL     CELEBRATION. 

and  saucer,  formerly  belonging  to  Mrs.  Anna  (Strobridge)  Dean; 
the  wedding  dress  of  Mrs.  Abigail  (Williams)  Hodges;  dinner  horn 
over  I  GO  years  old,  used  in  the  family  of  Capt.  George  Williams. 

Miss  Celia  A.  Williams — silver  plated  teapot. 

Mrs.  Gertrude  W.  Austin — embroidered  linen  robe. 

Joseph  F.  Dean — tobacco  box. 

J.  Lewis  Austin — silver  watch,  tiint  lock  musket,  bread  peel. 

Mrs.  B.  Church  Vickery — a  pitcher  over  a  century  old. 

Miss  Alice  M.  Williams — white  silk  stockings  and  white  satin 
Vist,  worn  by  Capt.  Abiathar  \\'illiams  on  his  wedding  day,-Oct. 
i8,  1801. 

Miss  Charlotte  A.  Williams — large  silver  spoon,  belonging  in 
the  Carver  family  over  100  years. 

Mrs.  J.  W.  D.  Hall — a  pair  of  gold  ear  rings,  worn  by  a  bride 
in  17S3,  pair  of  gold  cuff  buttons,  mourning  piece,  wTought  in  1805, 
a  silver  sugar  bowl,  80  years  old,  glass  tea  bottle  of  1776,  India 
wrought  shell  comb. 

Miss  Julia  Seaver — portraits  of  her  parents,  Benjamin  Sea- 
ver  and  Mrs.  Susanna  Lippitt  (Hull)  Seaver,  a  silver  pitcher. 

Mrs.  James  Brown — ancient  china  tea  set,  a  sermon  preached 
by  Robert  Cushman,  in  162 1,  at  Plymouth,  printed,  1626. 

Mrs.  Lewis  R.  Chesbrough — three  line  engravings  of  old 
heads,  1640;  old  china,  very  old  embroidery. 

Mrs.  F.  C.  Brown — snuff  box,  100  years  old,  Bible  of  1715, 
two  cups  and  a  saucer,  100  years  old. 

Elizabeth  Hall — portrait  of  Rev.  Pitt  Clark. 

H.  L.  Waldron — law  dictionary,  1773, -ancient  document. 

J.  W.  D.  Hall — autograph  letter  of  President  George  Wash- 
ington in  1796  to  John  Marshall,  Chief  Justice  in  1801,  found  in 
a  Virginia  mansion  during  the  rebellion;  U.  S.  continental  curren- 
cy, three  notes  issued  in  17 76, -paid  to  Samuel  Hall,  a  revolution- 
ary soldier  in  1783. 

Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Fox — Bible,  1756,  Gazetteer,  1796. 

Mrs.  Lois  H.  Congdon — confederate  currency,  ^i,  and  $5,  re- 
spectively, also  continental  money. 

Herbert  A.  Dean — watch  charm,  knee  buckles,  spur,  sleeve 
buttons. 


DOXATIOX    AND    LOAN    KXHllUT.  20I 

Mrs.  G.  Frank  Dean — a  reel,  formerly  belonji;inj.;  to  her  threat 
ji;randinother.  two  samplers  loi  and  82  years  old  respectively;  kid 
mits,  child's  embroidered  apron,  cup  and  saucer,  over  two  centu- 
ries old,  ancient  jug. 

Miss  Anna  L.  Bonney — portrait  of  her  great,  great,  great 
grandmother,  Mrs.  Abigail  (Crossman)  Thompson,  born  about 
1700;  portrait  of  Nell  Gwynne,  Duchess  of  St.  Albans,  painted  by 
Sir  Peter  Lely,  and  an  old  portrait  of  17th  century,-each  formerly 
belonging  to  her  grandfather,  Cephas  Thompson;  ancient  Flemish 
tapestry,  from  a  cartoon  of  Raphael,  nearly  300  years  old,  former- 
ly the  property  of  the  same. 

Mrs.  Mary  B.  Washburn — cradle  200  years  old,  ancient  skates. 

Samuel  G.  Hicks — a  square  over  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  J.  W.  Dean — ancient  pepper  box. 

Mrs.  J.  S.  Rounds — miniature  on  ivory  of  her  father,  E.  B. 
Leonard,  at  the  age  of  17,  wedding  ear  rings  of  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Harriet  (Ingell)  Leonard;  miniature  on  ivory  of  her  grandfather, 
Samuel  Leonard,  and  a  portrait  of  the  same;  portraits  of  her 
grand  parents,  Jonathan  Ingell  and  Mrs.  Freelove  (Andrews)  In- 
gell:  a  quilt  embroidered  by  Mrs.  E.  B.  Leonard. 

Miss  A.  S.  Baylies — portrait  of  Charles  R.  Vickery;  minia- 
ture on  ivory  of  Capt.  Job  Hall, -painted  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds; 
portrait  of  James  Sproat.  who  was  born  in  1758:  Sproat  family 
tree,  embroidered  on  satin;  miniature  on  ivory  of  Apollos  Leonard; 
a  china  plate  and  coat  of  arms  of  the  Beale  family  brought  from 
England  by  Miss  Beale,  who  married  Jonathan  Cobb  of  Taunton: 
cup,  saucer  and  salt  cellar,  formerly  owned  by  Rev.  John  West. 

Joseph  S.  Pitts — portraits  of  his  parents. -Abner  Pitts  and 
Mrs.  Eleanor  (Sanford)  Pitts. 

Mrs.  Henry  G.  Reed — infants  shoes,  worn  by  her  grand- 
father. Christopher  Carpenter,  who  was  born  in  1762. 

D.  A.  Burt— ancient  books.-"  Curious  Epitaphs.'  "Looking 
unto  Jesus"  or  a  "Collection  of  Experiences  and  Sermons" 
preached  in  the  17th  century  and  printed  1762;  "Farrago"  1733. 

Mrs.  James  B.  Lane — brass  candlestick,  silver  spoon.  109 
years  old,  formerly  belonging  to  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Mary 
\\'illiams  Byram. 


302        (JUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Miss  Charlotte  Morton  Levering — portrait  of  her  grand- 
mother, Mrs.  Charlotte  (Hodges)  Morton,  wife  of  Gov.  Marcus 
Morton. 

13.  I).  Perkins — a  wooden  sugar  bowl,  made  by  one  of  Wash- 
ington's army  at  Valley  Forge,  in  winter  of  1777-S. 

George  M.  Woodward — portrait  of  his  father,  James  Wood- 
ward. 

(iertrude  1.  I'ond — a  ])amphlet  containing  letters  respecting 
the  American  Revolution,  written  by  John  Adams,  in  Holland,  in 
1780. 

The  "Old  Flag"  of  Co.  G,  borne  by  Capl.  Gordon's  compan\- 
at  Fortress  Monroe  in  1861-and  Capt.  PauH's  c(>mpan\-  at  the 
Gulf  expedition  in  1863-4 — donated  for  preservation. 

WARD      I'i\i:. 

Samuel  A.  Dean — portraits  of  his  parents,  Robert  Dean  wiio 
died  1822,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Susan  Leavitt  (Padelford)  Dean,  who 
died  1850. 

Mrs.  Samuel  A.  I  )ean — a  brass  candlestick. 

Mrs.  Charles  N.  C.  Barstow — IJy-laws  of  the  proprietors  ol 
(he  'J'aunton  Social  Library-1836. 

Miss  Anna  W.  Dean — a  sermon  preached  May  j  6,  1792:  home 
made  long  white  gloves:  a  glass  mug  and  a  cream  pitclicr,  each 
100  \ears  old,  owned  by  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Anna  ( .Slrobridge) 
Dean;  three  white  feathers,  white  crape  collar,  and  white  lace  arm- 
lets, worn  by  Mrs.  Betsey  (Dean)  Hart,  on  her  wedding  da\,  70 
years  ago. 

Mrs.  John  W.  Hart — china  plate.  cheri"\-  rum  bottle,  a  reel, 
swift,  an  embroidered  silk  picture  wrought  l)\  Mrs.  IJetsey  (Dean) 
Hart,  gold  beads,  formerly  the  property  of  her  grandmother.  Mrs. 
Sarah  (\\'illianis)  Williams,  and  which  were  given  to  Mrs.  Williams 
by  her  father  (ieorge  Williams. 

Mrs.  Henry  .Shove — a  pewter  pot.  200  years  old.  used  for 
making  checkerberry  tea. 

Joseph  H.  Padelford — ver\  old  chair. 

Jr)seph  L.  .Macomber — a  stone  jar.  made  b}  Joseph  Hood,  in 
'7'J.S- 


DONATION    AXn    l.oAX    I'.X  II I  l!ll  .  203 

Ebenezer  A.  Dean — metal  pipe.  hangin<^  iron  candlestick, 
copies  of  Resolves  of  the  T,eji;islatui'e,  1776- 1778:  military  order  to 
commanders,  1780,  warrant  from  Henry  Gardner,  'I'reasurer  State 
of  Mass.  Bay.  to  Ebenezer  Dean,  Collector,  1777:  assessors'  book 
for  expense  of  expedition  to  Crown  Point.  1776:  assessors'  book 
for  Province,  Town,  and  Minister's  tax  1767:  the  commission  of 
Ebenezer  Dean  as  Captain  of  Militia,  from  Gov.  'I'homas  Hutch- 
inson, under  George  the  Third.    1772. 

Mrs.  Paddock  Dean,  who  is  91  years  old — a  silver  pepper  box, 
150  years  old,  first  owned  by  her  great  grand  parents.  Rev.  Caleb 
and  Mrs.  Priscilla  (Payson)  Rice;  a  Bible  150  years  old  with  silver 
clasps,  owned  by  Mrs.  Priscilla  (Payson)  Rice,  before  her  marriage; 
gauze  veil,  cushion,  fan,  bead  bag,  bracelet  and  pin,  heirlooms  in 
the  Barnum  and  Vickery  families;  a  sermon  preached  by  her  grand- 
father, Rev.  Caleb  Barnum.  in  1761:  rules  of  Princeton  College, 
while  Mr.  Barnum  was  a  student  there  in  1753:  a  picture  wrought 
by  her  grandmother,  Priscilla  Rice  (afterwards  the  wife  of  Re\'. 
Caleb  Barnum)  while  attending  school  at  Boston;  pine  apple  pitch- 
er, formerly  belonging  to  her  father.  Capt.  David  Vickery;  china, 
which  belonged  to  her  mother.  Mrs.  Priscilla  (  Barnum  1  Vickery; 
a  silver  spoon,  no  years  old  once  the  property  of  Capt.  Vickery 
and  wife. 

.Mrs.  E.  r.  Jackson — a  Jiible.  1743.  once  l)el<)nging  to  her 
great  grand  mother,   jean  (Gordon,  who  married  Henry  .Strobridgc. 

Afrs.  William  Richmond — a  shawl,  over  70  years  old. 

Jonathan  Richmond — saddle  bags,  an  ancient  uniform  coat 
worn  by  Walter  Richmond  in  1806. 

Miss  Alia  R.  Soper — Continental  currencv.  1 775.-76.-77:  a 
chest,  191  years  old. 

Miss  Jennie  M.  Soper — snuff  box.  siher  spoons. 

Mrs.  William  E.  Dean — silk  bed  quilt.  120  years  old.  which 
belonged  to  her  great  grandmother,  Mrs.  Polly  ( Dean)  Williams, 
wife  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Williams,  of   Raynham. 

Lysander  Soper — a  basket  for  holding  quills,  used  by  his  an- 
cestor, Mrs.  Hannah  (Standish)  Staples,  wife  of  Dea.  Seth  Staples, 
and  grand  daughter  of  Capt.    Miles   Standish.  of   Duxhury. 


204  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Haskell — pitcher  and  sugar  bowl. 

Mrs.  Charles  T.  Robinson — clock,  115  years  old.  once  owned 
by  Gen.  Cromwell  Washburn. 

Mrs.  Nathalie  E.  Baylies — epaulettes  of  Major  Hodijah  Baylies, 
of  Dighton,  aid-de-camp  to  Gen.  Washington;  two  silver  teaspoons, 
a  silver  watch,  a  pewter  platter,  three  pieces  of  Continental  curren- 
cy, $60,  $8,  and  $5,  respectively;  each  of  these  articles  formerly 
belonged  to  Major  Baylies;  an  invitation  from  the  Gov.  of  Mass., 
to  Major  Hodijah  Baylies,  July  i,  1799;  letter  of  Judge  Hodijah 
Baylies,  resigning  the  ofifice  of  Judge  of  Probate  for  Bristol  County, 
in  1834;  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Major  Baylies,  1783; 
letter  from  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln  to  Maj.  Baylies,  1778;  an  ad- 
dress or  "broadside,"  distributed  among  the  British  soldiers,  in 
England,  during  the  Revolutionary  War;  a  silver  teaspoon  belong' 
ing  to  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln;  ancient  pointed  shoe,  which  was 
worn  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Lincoln,  of  Dighton,  who  died  in  1824, 
aged  85  years;  facsimile  of  the  inscription  on  "Dighton  Rock." 

Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Robinson— Indian  arrow  heads. 

Miss  Margaret  S.  Dean — cup  and  saucer,  chocolate  bowl, 
birch  bark  rind.  Gentleman's  Magazine. -1  75  i;  home  made  linen, 
hand  reel,  a  lin  lantern;  a  pewter  platter,  marked  Z.  D.  1720,-tliis 
was  bought  in  Boston,  by  Miss  Zipporah  Dean,  daughter  of  John 
and  Hannah  Dean,  before  her  marriage  to  Benjamin  Dean,  who 
was  son  of  Benjamin  and  grandson  of  Walter  Dean.  Mrs.  Zip- 
|)orah  (Dean)  Dean  died  Sept.  27,  1778,  in  75th  year. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Ann  Padelford — The  History  of  the  Reformation 
of  Religion  in  the  Realm  of  Scotland,  from  1422  to  1567,  which 
was  brought  from  Scotland,  by  Mr.  Wade,  her  great,  great  grand 
father;  Ledger  of  Edmund  Williams,  beginning  1740;  a  very  old 
History  of  New  England. 

Samuel  VV.  Macomber — a  tea  jug,  which  once  belonged  to 
the  first  Richard  Williams  of  Taunton. 

Edward  O.  Hart — a  sun  glass. 

Mrs.  Edward  O.  Hart — ancient  books. 

Lysander  W.  and  Edward  O.  Hart — a  pair  of  patchers. 

Mrs.  Julia  Fairbanks — flax,  prepared  for  spinning;  a  boiuiet, 
made  by  "Ma'am   Barstow,  "  wrought  worsted  pocket  book.    125 


noNAJ'ION     AM)    I.OAX     ['.XIIIIllT.  205 

years  old;  a  ])iece  of  an  enil)roidered   weddiiiij  petticoat,  125  years 
old. 

Miss  Harriet  A.  Barstow — linen  pillow  cases,  spun  and  woven 
by  her  great  grandmother,  Anna  Strobridge  of  Lakeville,  before 
her  marriage  to  Joseph  Dean,  of  Taunton,  in  1774.  She  was 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Jean  (Gordon)  Strobridge;  gold  beads 
which  once  belonged  to  Mrs.  Jean  (Gordon)  Strobridge;  a  lilac 
silk  shawl  formerly  the  property  of  Miss  Lois  Dean,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Anna  (Scrobridge)  Dean,  who  died  a  few  years  since, 
aged  91;  a  bible,  a  large  spoon,  six  tea  spoons,  the  last  three  ar- 
ticles have  been  in  the  Carver  family  over  a  century. 

WARD     .SIX. 

Mrs.  Cyrus  M.  Hoard — portrait  of  her  father,  Capt.  Allen  Pre.s- 
brey;  Kensington  work,  wrought  in  1806,  by  her  mother  Mrs. 
Mary  (Locke)  Presbrey;  wedding  tea  set  belonging  to  her  grand 
parents,  Seth  Presbrey  and  Mrs.  Sarah  (Pratt)  Presbrey;  portraits 
of  the  same;  a  map  of  the  world,  drawn  by  Capt.  Allen  Presbrey, 
with  a  quill  pen;  portrait  of  her  uncle,  Capt.  Seth  Presbrey,  Jr., 
born  1779. 

Henry  F.  Cobb — silver  porringer  and  mug,  belonging  to  his 
grandfather,  Jonathan  Cobb. 

Mrs.  J.  F.  Montgomery — wedding  vest  of  John  Montgomery; 
ancient  spoon;  chair  150  years  old. 

Mrs.  Ruth  A.  French — table  cloths,  towels,  and  pillow  cases, 
woven  114  years  ago,  by  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Burt,  when  17 
years  of  age;  ancient  dishes;  two  shawls  100  years  old;  old  books; 
teaspoons  112  years  old. 

Mrs.  Frances  P.  Tripp — portrait  of  her  father,  Alpheus  San- 
ford;  portrait  of  her  son.  Dr.  F.  D.  Tripp;  several  ancient  books, 
formerly  belonging  to  the  Sanford  family;  a  book  of  sermons.  1685. 

Mrs.  Edward  Cushman — pewter  platter,  owned  by  her  ances- 
tor, Capt.  Miles  Standish;  three  ancient  receipts;  flax  wheel  and 
flax;  cotton  hank  bag  150  years  old;  two  deeds,  of  17 12-1725, 
signed  by  Thomas  Cushman,  a  grandson  of  Elder  Cushman;  book, 
1743;  hatchel;  three  silver  tea  spoons  o\er  130  years  old;  embroid- 


206  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

eied  pocket  book  117  years  old;  toilet  set,  made  bv  Mrs.  E.  S. 
( "ushman,  from  home  made  linen,  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  A.  Jones  Sanford — copy  of  the  "Massachusetts  Sun," 
1775;  a  spear,  used  in  the  battles  of  Lexinoton.  and  Bunker  Hill, 
by  Capt.  John  Sanford. 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Hathaway — spoon  mould,  100  years  old. 

Herbert  M.  Bassett — a  chair,  played  with  by  six  generations 
of  children,  and  formerly  the  property  of  Richard  Hathaway. 

George  G.  Crane — the  sword  carried  by  his  great  grandfather. 
Brig.  Gen.  George  Godfrey,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Mrs.  Seth  E.  Williams — snuff  box,  tea  spoon,  cup  and  saucer, 
ear  ring,  sword,  knee  buckles,  beaded  bag,  continental  currency, - 
each  article  over  a  century  old:  silhouettes  of  Misses  Hannah  and 
Hertilla  Seaver. 

WARD    SEVEN. 

Mrs.  John  Dunbar — mirror,  pewter  porringer,  cup  and  saucer, 
tea  spoon,  milk  pitcher,  wooden  candlestick,  each  over  a  century 
old;  shawl  no  years  old;  salt  cup  150  years  old;  pewter  platter, 
three  pewter  plates,  horn  pepper  box,  each  125  years  old. 

Mrs.  George  Dunbar — linen  bedspread,  woolen  bedspread, 
towel,  handkerchiefs,  tea  spoon,  bead  bag,  plate,  basket,  snuff  box, 
each  article  over  100  years  old;  six  ancient  coins;  decanter;  bead 
purse:  a  copy  of  "Ulster  County  Gazette,"  Jan.  4,  1800:  Bible  of 
1752;  teaspoon  175  years  old;  Indian  History  of  1772. 

Mrs.  Hezekiah  Merrill — sugar  bowl,  tea  spoons,  ear  rings, 
breast  pin,  each  over  100  years  old;  book  of  1785;  gold  beads: 
linen  shawl  125  years  old;  woolen  coverlet. 

Mrs.  Wm.  Kittrell — a  book,  1785;  counterpane,  table  cloth, 
three  towels,  each  over  100  years  old;  a  chair  used  in  Westville 
ciunch,  during  the  pastorate  of   Rev.  Alvan  Cobb. 

Frank  Bragg — pewter  platter  ;in(l  plate,  over  100  years  old ; 
cup  and  saucer  75   years  old;  pitch  pipe:  cider  mug. 

Mr.  Whitman — a  Fiji  war  Ctul):  tea  pot  200  years  old:  linen 
gloves,  spun  and  woven  bv  a  bride  of  200  years  ago;  worn  b)'  the 
grcKjm  at  weddings  for  four  generations. 


DOXAIKIN     AXI)     low     I"..\llli;l'l'.  207 

Henrv  Hart— a  drawing  of  highton  Rork.  1S21;  horn  of  the. 
oryx;  books  of   1793  and  1795. 

Mrs.  John  W'ihnarth — coin  of  1789;  an  old  plate;  communion 
service  of  the  old  Baptist  church  at  West  'I'aunton. 

Mrs.  Chester  W'ilmarth — silver  spoons  90  years  old:  a  pitcher 
1687;  bowl  200  years  old:  two  sugar  bowls  over  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  Eber  Luther — .VIonkey  jug  125  years  old. 

Lewis  Dary — spy  glass,  taken  from  the  house  occupied  by  JelV. 
Davis  at  the  evacuation  of  Richmond. 

Mrs.  Allen  Burt — a  history  of  England,  1759;  a  plalr,  cup 
and  saucer,  each  over  too  years  old:  punch  glasses;  copy  of  '•  Rut- 
land Herald,"'  Oct.  12,  1795:  copy  of  "The  Sun"'  a  Taunton  paper, 
July  12,  1833;  sugar  bowl  150  years  old. 

\N'alter  Burt — ancient  coin. 

Miss  Lucy  Bliss — bead  chain,  1833. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Dunbar — sugar  bowl,  tea  pot,  creamer,  three 
pitchers,  tea  cup  and  saucer,  coffee  cup,  mustard  cup,  three  p]ate.s, 
decanter,  w'ine  and  punch  glasses,  shawl,  collar,  linen  pillow  cases, 
towels,  thirty  pieces  of  wearing  apparel,  each  over  100  years  old; 
cup  and  saucer  80  years  old;  linen  apron  front  150  years  old; 
pocket  with  skeins  of  linen  and  cotton  125  years  old:  three  dresses 
and  other  articles,  formerly  belonging  to  the  LeValley  family;  nine 
ancient  coins;  ear  rings  125  years  old;  hair  bracelet  75  years  old: 
two  books  over  100  years  old:  gold  beads  over  125  years  old. 

Mrs.  Abigail  Pratt — large  painted  plate  over  200  years  old. 

Abel  Crane — scales  for  weighing  money,   two  centuries  old. 

W'm.  J  Walker — needle  book  125  years  old;  silver  sleeve  but- 
tons. 

Benj.  Lincoln — cradle:  documents  1680. 

Dea.  Lorenzo  Lincoln — spectacles  150  years  old. 

Miss  Mary  R.  Lincoln — open  work  plate  175  vears  old: 
doughnut  fork  200  years  old. 

Miss  R.  Babbitt — two  cups  and  saucers.  125  years. 

Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Gulliver — sugar  bowl:  china  cup  and  saucei: 
painted  tea  set  125  years  old. 

Mrs.  Randall  Bullock — a  plate  over  200  years  old. 

Frank   Walker — suit  worn  in  war  of   18 12,  bv  George  Walker, 


208  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Mrs.  R.  Hoyt — sword  75  years  old,  owned  by  Capt.  Ebenezer 
Walker. 

Mary  \V.  Lincoln — bottle  called  "Woodpecker  bottle,"  200 
years  old. 

Miss  Caroline  Lincoln — basin,  pewter  platter,  pewter  plate, 
earthen  dish,  each  250  years  old;  pitcher  200  years  old;  two  hand- 
kerchiefs, infant's  cap,  each  125  years  old;  breadth  of  silk  dress 
120  years  old;  pewter  plate  115  years  old;  towel  woven  in  1783,  by 
Bethany  Lincoln;  ancient  book. 

WARD    EIGHT. 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Knox — a  small  wooden  box,  formerly  the  property 
of  Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  the  fourth  minister  of  Taunton. 

Mrs.  George  Harvey — a  cannon  ball  of  Revolutionary  War. 

Mrs.  Enoch  Chase — tea  pot  150  years  old. 

Miss  Sarah  Brabrook — two  ancient  books;  sampler  97  years 
old;  two  silver  tea  spoons  over  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  H.  J.  Burbank — large  glass  tumbler. 

Mrs.  George  Brabrook — portrait  of  her  mother,  Mrs.  Fidelia 
(Danforth)  Knowles;  bead  necklace,  a  bag,  child's  hood,  child's 
bank;  mug  and  plate  having  Franklin's  proverbs  on  them;  china 
cream  pitcher;  a  cake  plate;  Majolica  cup  and  saucer;  bonnet  and 
veil  of  60  years  ago;  armlets:  two  samplers  68  and  83  years  old, 
respectively. 

William  H.Tyndal — two  nails  from  the  coffin  of  Elizabeth  Pole. 

Edwin  M.  Hills — a  chair  140  years  old,  originally  owned  by 
Daniel  Williams, -born  1718,-dieci  1782;  infant's  homespun  linen 
o-arment  and  caps  over  125  years  old;  china  tea  caddy,  creamer, 
and  plate,  85  years  old;  blue  crockery  ware  65  years  old;  milk- 
weed cape  made  in  1830,  by  his  mother,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  (Pratt) 
Hills;  portrait  of  his  father,  Capt.  Seneca  Hills. 

Mrs.  David  D.  Babbitt — saddle  bags,  pewter  dish,  flint,  tin- 
der, tobacco  and  cartridge  boxes,  each  over  100  years  old,  and 
once  owned  by  Obed  Dean,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  born  1750; 
wooden  plate;  spice  mill;  three  almanacks,  1783,  1788,  1789;  In- 
dian hatchet. 


DONATION     AND     r.OAN     EXHIRIT.  2O9 

Mrs.  Albert  Mitchell — Indian  arrow  head  and  spear  head, 
dug  up  near  Scadding's  Pond  in  1868;  a  copper  penny  blank, 
found  in  the  old  copper  privilege,  near  the  site  of  Reed  &  Barton's 
dam,  a  pink  pearl,  found  in  a  fresh  water  clam  taken  from  Taun- 
ton River. 

Frank  L.  Fish — a  spoon,  made  from  silver  buckles  worn  by 
his  grandfather  in    1770. 

Miss  Maude  Fish — a  beaded  needle  book  65  years  old.         , 

John  A.  Abbott — valuable  papers,  printed  in  1789;  Maga- 
zines, printed  in  1 748-1 793;  coat  of  arms  of  his  great  grand- 
father. Rev.  Jonathan  French,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  a  descendant 
in  the  5th  generation  from  John  and  Priscilla  Alden. 

Mrs.  J.  A.  Abbott — a  warming  pan  200  years  old;  mirror  175 
years  old;  china  cup  and  saucer  150  years  old;  pewter  plate  170 
years  old;  earthen  churn  with  w^ooden  paddle,  150  years  old; 
china  cup  and  saucer  100  years  old;  china  fruit  dish  150  years  old. 

Mrs.  Frank  L.  Fish — lady's  tobacco  and  pipe  case  over  two 
centuries  old;  a  foot  stove  used  in  church  175  years  ago;  a  pewter 
platter  170  years  old;  a  beaded  bag  65  years  old. 

Mrs.  Theo.  P.  Hall — a  sermon  on  the  parable  of  the  prodigal, 
delivered  to  the  third  parish  in  Newbury,  Aug.  18,  1793,  by  Abra- 
ham Moor,  A.  M. 

NORTON'. 

Mrs.  Moses  Lincoln — almanacs,  1789,  1790.  1791:  a  Bible 
133  years  old,  formerly  owned  by  Dea.  Simeon  Williams,  of  Taun- 
ton, and  bought  Mar.  3,  1762,  for  18  shillings. 

Miss  Kate  L.  \A'ood — almanacs,  from  1759  to  1788. 

John  D.  Hardon — commission  of  his  grandfather,  Lieut. 
Isaac  Hardon,  1790. 

Eben  Willis — kettle-drum,  carried  by  his  great  grandfather 
Nathaniel  Stone,  at  the  siege  of  Boston,  also  used  in  French  war; 
it  was  made  in  1745.  by  Robert  Grossman  of  Taunton,  drum 
maker  of  New  England. 

Mrs.  Eunice  M.  Blanding — Robinson  Crusoe,  1794. 

Mrs.  E.  T.  Wetherell — a  tile  from  the  Peddy  Bowen  house, 
built  before  1700, 


2IO  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Miss  Lizzie  A.  Smith — needle  case  and  thread  bag  over  loo 
years  old,  formerly  the  property  of  her  great  grandmother,  Mrs. 
Lydia  (Perry)  Bowen,  of  Rehoboth. 

Mrs.  John  D.  Hardon^sampler  wrought  by  Mrs.  Eunice 
(Sweet)  Hardon. 

Miss  Lintha  A.  H.  Francis — silver  spoon  128  years  old,  for- 
merly belonging  to  her  great  grandmother.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Wil- 
liams) Gilbert;  a  small  earthen  pitcher,  given  to  her  grandmother, 
Mrs.  Mary  (Kimball)  Goward,  in  1781;  a  spinning  cup,  used  on  a 
wheel  to  wet  the  fingers  when  spinning  by  her  grandmother,  Mrs. 
Mercy  (Gilbert)  Francis,  who  was  born  Aug.  25,  1776;  a  pepper 
box  owned  by  the  same. 

Alexander  Foster — honey  jar,  brought  from  England  nearly 
200  years  ago,  by  his  great  grandfather.  Alexander  Foster,  who 
settled  in  Attleboro',  Mass.  The  jar  has  never  been  used  for  any 
other  purpose. 

George  R.  Perry — portrait  of  Rev.  Pitt  Clarke;  pitch  pipe  85 
years  old,  made  and  used  by  his  father.  Capt.  Lemuel  Perry. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Newcomb — a  specimen  of  ancient  carving;  In- 
dian adze. 

Mrs.  Allen  Blandin — iron  knocker  formerly  on  the  door  of 
the  first  church  built  in  Norton. 

Mrs.  William  W.  Smith — sword  broken  in  a  battle,  formerly 
owned  by  her  great  grandfather,  Mr.  Davis,  of  Mattapoisett,  who 
was  drafted  in  the  Revolution;  his  son  Joseph  Davis  (her  grand- 
father) went  in  his  place, 

Mrs.  S.  J.   Freeman — two   commentaries,   of    16 18   and  1677. 

Miss  Achsah  Williams — a  standard,  brought  home  from  the 
French  War.  by  her  great  grandfather,  ("apt.  Benjamin  Williams, 
who  commanded  a  company  in  1756.  at  Fort  William  Henry. 

Mrs.  ]ones  Godfrey — powder  horn  taken  in  French  War;  an- 
cient church  records  of  Norton;  sword  and  spear,  carried  by  Capt. 
Tisdale  Godfrey;  a  Bible  of   1752. 

William  D.  Wetherell — a  deed,  bearing  the  only  known  sig- 
nature of  William  Wetherell,  the  first  settler  of  Norton;  pair  of 
scales;   Indian  relics. 


noNATiox   wn   i.o.w   Kxiiiiiri'.  211 

Alden  H.  Leonard — ancient  bullets  and  Hints:   Indian  relics. 

Miss  Sophia  C.  Sweet — a  medical  work,  156 1,  broufi^ht  from 
England  by  her  great  grandfather,  Dr.  John  Blake;  a  ferule  used 
in  school,  by  her  grandmother,  Sarah  Balcom,  born  1757,  and 
afterwards  wife  of  Jason  Blake. 

Miss  Harriot  A.  Newcomb — portraits  of  her  grand  parents. 
General  Thomas  Lincoln,  of  Taunton,  born  Sept.  4,  1759,  died 
Aug.  10,  1836,  and  Mrs.  Esther  (Newland)  Lincoln,  born  May  23, 
1766;  sampler  wrought  by  Esther  Newland  in  1784:  saucer  over 
100  years  old,  from  a  set  owned  by  her  great  grand  parents, 
Ambrose  Lincoln  and  Mrs.  Hannah  (Clapp)  Lincoln;  bill  of  sale 
of  two  slaves  to  Ambrose  Lincoln.  Mar.  16,  1747:  a  permit  for  a 
slave  to  visit  Stoughton,  May  31,  1749:  a  lottery  ticket,  to  aid  in 
removing  rocks  and  shoals  from  Taunton  Great  River,  May,  1760: 
school  certificate  to  Betsey  Lincoln,  bearing  the  signature  of  Rev. 
John  Pipon:  promissory  note,  having  the  signature  of  Alexander 
Hamilton,  June  5,  1788;  writing  book  of  Ambrose  Lincoln,  17 16: 
a  love  letter,  written  Jan.  13,  1763,  by  Miss  Sarah  Bowen,  of 
Dighton,  to  Amos  Newland,  of  Norton,  with  draft  of  reply,  and  a 
second  letter,  in  rhyme;  a  purse  made  from  home  made  crewels, 
by  Hepzibah  Lincoln,  born  1749,  died  1782,  first  wife  of  Solomon 
Wetherell,  of  Taunton;  home  made,  plaid  linen  shirt,  worn  by 
Ambrose  Lincoln,  Sr.,  who  died  Mar.  3,  1795;  a  silver  stock  but- 
ton, worn  by  Gen.  Thomas  Lincoln;  quill  pen,  used  by  Hannah  C. 
(Lincoln)  Brigham,  while  at  school  in  Boston;  home  made  gar- 
ments over  100  years  old,  worn  by  her  grandfather,  Josiah  New- 
comb,  Sr.;  silver  shoe  and  knee  buckles,  owned  in  Newcomb  fam- 
ily over  100  years;  infant's  slip  and  cap  of  ancient  make;  cane. 
owned  by  Nathaniel  Newcomb.  made  from  wood  from  the  Han- 
cock house,  Boston,  erected  in  1729;  cartridge  box  carried  in  Rev- 
olution; letters  patent,  signed  by  James  Madison,  president  of 
United  States,  Dec.  3,  1814;  kitchen  furniture;  an  India  rubber, 
made  many  years  before  Goodyear's  patent  was  issued;  printed 
account  of  battles  and  songs  over  100  years  old;  two  India  cotton 
dresses,  worn  in  1799.  by  Nathaniel  Newcomb,  who  was  born  Apr. 
12,  1797:   silver  tray  and  snuffers. 


212  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

nniHTOx. 

Mrs.  Abbie  W.  Whitmarsh — tea  caddy  and  pickle  dish,  over 
150  years  old;  foot  stove  and  brass  candlesticks,  over  100  years 
old;  pair  of  slippers  which  were  worn  by  a  lady  when  riding  with 
Gen.  LaFayette;  nutmeg  grater,  1787:  a  serpent:  a  bass  horn, 
made  of  wood;  clarionet. 

Edward  R.  Talbot — clarionet  played  by  William  B.  Whit- 
marsh: bass  viol,  tuning  fork,  and  psalm  book,  used  by  Capt.  Seth 
Talbot;  violin,  played  by  Frank  Whitmarsh;  communion  service, 
given  by  Joseph  Atwood;  these  articles  were  used  in  the  Dighton 
church,  when  Elder  Gushee  was  pastor:  ancient  pistol  used  in  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

William  Z.  Whitmarsh — cane,  made  from  the  stick  which 
•'stout"  George  Briggs  used  to  successfully  defend  himself  from  a 
press  gang,  in  Havana,  Cuba. 

C.  C.  Andrews — English  verge  watch. 

Mrs.  E.  F.  Andrews — linen,  woven  over  100  years  ago. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Atwood — portrait  of  her  grandfather,  Col. 
Robert  Elliot,  painted  by  Copley,  in  1765;  Elliot  and  Coggeshall 
coat  of  arms;  three  pictures  over  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  George  E.  Gooding — clock  reel  of  great  age. 

Mrs.  George  B.  Townsend — the  first  china  cup  and  saucer 
used  in  Berkley. 

Mrs.  L.  P.  King — ancient  documents;  bowl;  chair. 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Trafton — ancient  documents:  cup  and  saucer: 
china  plate;  covered  mug. 

Mrs.  William  Babbitt — ancient  hall  clock. 

Mrs.  William  Hathaway — ancient  shell  comb;   iron   mortar. 

Mrs.  Edward  R.  Talbot — two  pewter  platters. 

Weston  Earle— buckles;  Indian  pestle;  arrow  points. 

Chandler  Bro's — candlesticks  250  years  old;  ancient  tongs. 

George  A.  Shove — fourteen  pictures,  entitled, -Landing  of  the 
Northmen;  A  Cove  in  Autumn:  Design  for  a  Sanitarium;  A  Large 
Allowance:  Schr.  Oliver  Ames,  with  a  free  wind;  W'aiting  for  a 
lireaker:  Earlv  <  )ctober;   Interior  of   a   Glass-covered  Street;  The 


DONATION    AM)    LOAN    EXHIIJIT.  213 

River  Bank;  After  Sunset  at  Sea:  H.  H.:  A  Farm  Lane:  Coach 
Dog:   Aglae  and  Boniface. 

Whitman  Chase — carved  chest  200  years  old,  two  cups  and 
saucers,  sugar  bowl,  pitcher,  plate;-these  articles  formerly  belonged 
to  the  Doane  family,  of  Harwich,  Mass.;  a  powder  horn,  dated. 
Crown  Point,  July  29.  1760,  formerly  belonging  to  John  Chase. 

George  D.  Chase — collection  of  ancient  coins. 

Sarah  Babbitt — bellows  100  years  old:  flax  reel. 

William  ().  Lee — bread  peel:  bed  cord  made  from  hogs 
bristles,  each  article  over  two  centuries  old:   ancient  bit. 

Sylvanus  Chase — spoon  mould;  pair  of  cards:  canteen  used 
in  war  of  i8ii;   ancient  plane,  and  saw. 

S.  M.  Smith — looking  glass  125  years  old. 

The  Rose  Farm — china  tea  set  used  in  1754  at  the  wedding  of 
Sylvester  Atwood  and  Ruth  Church,  the  youngest  granddaughter 
of  Capt.  Benjamin  Church:  china  which  belonged  to  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Atwood,  wife  of  Jx)seph  Atwood,  gent.:  a  table  which  be- 
longed to  the  same;  a  rapier  left  in  the  house  of  Joseph  Atwood 
by  a  Tory  officer;  pudding  spoon,  made  with  jack  knife  by  Thomas 
Rose,  while  in  Dartmouth  Prison;  linen  wheel  of  1778:  iron  dogs 
of  1758;  silver  spoons  of  1700;  old  documents  1648  to  i/oo;  an- 
cient window  and  shutters. 

EAST  OX. 

Miss  P.  H.  Reed — pipe  box,  and  tobacco  tongs,  100  years  old. 
foruicrly  owned  and  used  by  Rev.  William  Reed;  tinder  box;  Latin 
(Jrammar,  1767:  pewter  porringer  75  years  old:  sermons  by  Cotton 
.NLither  and  others,  1695-6. 

Miss  A.  H.  Reed — the  I'niversal  Spelling  Book,  75  years  old; 
pewter  porringer. 

Miss  L.  E.  Gilmore — a  Bible  17  15;  Voung  Ladies"  Accidence, 
1804;  pewter  platter;  two  pewter  basins:  two  pewter  porringers: 
pair  of  iron  andirons;  three  crane  hooks;  iron  pot:  two  pewter 
plates;  iron  candlestick;  ivory  and  shell  snufif  box,    100    years  old. 

Mrs.  Richard  Hunt — iron  skillet,  sugar  bowl,  tea  pot,  each 
150  years  old:  pewter  basin  125  years  old;  glass  salt  cellar  over 
100  vears  old. 


2  14  yUAKTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Daniel  B.  Wheaton — tongs,  for  turnini;-  steak  before  an  open 
lire. 

W.  H.  Lothrop — a  rule  used  in  the  Revolution,  by  Capt. 
Elisha  Harvey. 

Edward  D.  Williams — Hint  lock  musket,  with  bayonet,  175 
years  old,  used  in  French  war,  by  Mr.  James  Dean;  cartridge 
box  175  years  old;  sword,  saddle  bags,  horse  pistol  cases,  each 
over  150  years  old;  teapot,  sugar  bowl,  creamer,  each  150  years 
old;  wooden  skimmer  and  ladle;  a  pitcher  175  years  old,  used  for 
Hip,  by  Mr.  Thomas  Williams,  tavern  keeper  on  the  Bay  road, 
Easton;  book  of  votes,  belonging  to  the  Taunton  North  Purchase 
Company,  begun  in  1664.  All  these  articles  came  from  the  oldest 
house  in  Easton,  built  in  17  15. 

Mrs.  Bernard  Alger — a  piggin,  over  100  years  old;  pair  oi 
snuffers  and  tray;  an  embroidered  bed  spread,  designed  and 
wrought  over  100  years  ago,  by  her  aunt,  Miss  Vesta  Howard,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  Guild;  the  Hax  of  which  this  is 
made,  was  grown,  spun,  woven,  and  dyed,  on  the  farm  of  Roland 
Howard,  Esq.,  of   Easton. 

Rev.  William  L.  Chaffin — Interleaved  Almanack,  1754,  used 
by  Rev.  George  Farrar,  of   Easton,  as  a  diary. 

Charles  H.  Reed — a  Yankee  Baker. 

Mrs.  O.  J.  Gilmore — iron  pot;  glass  mug;  string  of  gold  beads; 
canteen  of  Easton  Light  Infantry;  copy  of  "Columbian  Cenlinel,'' 
Jan.  14,  1797;  Heliotype  likeness  of  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Olive 
(Poole)  Reed,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Reed,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Easton  from  1781  to  1806. 

N.  W.  Perry — a  half  hour  glass,  80  years  old;  Hancock 
writing;  watch,  owned  by  Lieut.   James  Leonard,  about  x68o. 

Mrs.  William  White — tinder  box,  sun  dial,  eagle,  scarf,  each 
over  a  century  old;   continental  money  $7,0,  113  years  old. 

Guilford  White — sash;   Bible  Dictionary,  1622. 

William   P>osworth — samplers;    almanac.  1801:    ancient   (.[ccd. 

Mrs.  Charles  Wade — Indian  pipe;   cape. 

Mrs.  E.  A.  Fobes — book;  warrant. 

Ross  Heel  Co. — Louis  XX  heel. 


DONATION     AM)     LOAN    ]:.\  1 1 1 1:11  .  215 

Mrs.  Clara  Bonney — vase  150  years  old. 
The  office  of    O.  Ames  &:  Sons— bust  of   ( )li\'er  y\ines,  ist. 
O.  A.  Ames — portrait  of  his  father,  Hon.  Oakes  Ames. 
Mrs.  ( ).  Ames — portrait  of  Oliver  Ames,  2d. 
I'aul    Dean   Lodge — portrait  of  Rev.  Paul    Dean,  from  whom 
I  he  Lodge  received  its  name. 

K  \\"xiia:\i. 

Mrs.  I).  Franklin  Dean — portraits  of  Sheriff  Horatio  Leonard 
and  Dr.  Zephaniah  Leonard;  military  cap;  canteen;  gun  and  sword 
used  in  the  War  of  Revolution. 

.Miss  Louisa  Snow — portraits  of  George  the  'i'hird  and  his 
(^ucen;   a  Nelson  pitcher;   ancient  hymn  book. 

Alfred  Gilmore — continental  money,  hymn  book,  phite. 

Mrs.  Cassander  (lilmore — child's  suit,  fancy  box,  powder  case. 

Mrs.  L'a  Dickerman — Indian  pestle;  pewter  platter;  a  wooden 
shovel   made  by  an  Indian. 

Nathan  H.  Fuller — writing  desk,  chair,  pewter  plate;  each 
of  these  were  once  the  property  of  Gov.  \\'m.  Bradford. 

Mrs.  Jairus  Gushee — tea  cup  and  saucer  100  years  old;  coffee 
cup  brought  from  England  150  years  ago. 

Mrs.  Betsey  Leach — spectacles,  apron,  sampler. 

Dea.  Samuel  Jones — Indian  relics. 

Frederic  ^^^  Gushee — boy's  jacket,  feather  cai)e,  shell  cunib. 
sniilT  bo.\;  a  George  Washington  pitcher. 

¥.  Carey  Andrews — pitch  pipe. 

Willard  T.  Copeland — lady's  busk. 

Nathan  W.  Shaw — journal  of  Revolutionary  War;  lace,  cup 
and  saucer,  two  punch  bowls,  two  old  portraits,  ancient  book;  cow- 
bell over  200  years  old. 

Miss  Harriet  Robinson — a  leaf  from  a  bible  that  was  brought 
(i\er  in  the  Mayflower;  towel  made  1740. 

William  Caswell — a  carved  wh<ile"s  tooth. 

Melvin  Leonard — silver  creamer,  given  by  Paul  Leonard  to 
iiis  bride  150  vears  ago. 

Mrs.  Crocker — wedding  \est  of   Deacon  Elijah   Leonard. 


2l6  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Hammond — wedding  dress  and  shoes  of  Mrs. 
Elijah  Leonard,  150  years  old. 

Mrs.  Alice  King — christening  blanket  over  200  years  old,  an 
heirloom  of  the  Leonard  family. 

Mrs.  Chauncy  Washburn — embroidered  blanket  150  years 
old,  formerly  belonging  to  Mrs.  Barzillai  King;  ancient  wedding 
slippers;  sash  formerly  worn  by  Gen.  Cromwell  Washburn. 

Mrs.  D.  D.  White — pitcher  formerly  belonging  to  the  Wash- 
burn family.  , 

Miss  Mary  Hall — ancient  bellows. 

Mrs.  W.  S.  Briggs — ancient  sampler. 

Capt.  Charles  T.  Robinson — portrait  of  his  father,  Charles 
Robinson. 

Miss  Susie  King — drawing  of  the  house  erected  about  1750, 
by  Stephen  Shaw. 

Mrs.  Alcott  J.   Lincoln — $3  continental  money;   ninepence  of 

•7  — 

Mr.  William  Wilbur — two  pewter  platters. 

Mrs.  Bradford  Wilbur — papers  printed  in  1798-1801:  alman- 
ack of   1770. 

Elijah  M.  Richmond — homespun  linen  handkerchief. 

Seth  I).  Wilbur — hatchet  over  100   years  old;  wedding  wnist- 
coat  over  100  years  old,  made  and  worn  by  Seth  Dean. 
Mrs.  Harlow — ancient  pitcher  and  pewter  plate. 

BERKLEY. 

Mrs.  Nathan  Bowen — ancient  portrait:  two  silver  spoons  for- 
merly the  property  of  Col.  'Jliomas  Gilbert;  tea  pot,  creamer, 
sugar  bowl,  pair  knee  buckles,  muslin  cap,  collar,  silk  bonnet,  each 
over  100  years  old;  two  documents  of  1760  and  1769,  respectively; 
almanack,  1785. 

Mrs.  Edward  Lyon — a  plate  and  tea  pul.  brought  from  Eng- 
land 200  years  ago. 

Mrs.  William  Babbitt — a  wall  basket  formerly  belonging  lo 
the  grandmother  of  Lucy  King;  canteen  bottle  carried  through 
the  Revolutionary  War  by  Joseph  French. 


DONATION    AND    LoAX    KXIIHUT.  217 

James  F.  Clark — ancient  sword. 

Congregational  Church — communion  cup  given  to  the  tirst 
cluirch  in  Berkley,  o\er  loo  years  ago,  by  Mr.  Israel  Tisdale.  of 
I'aunton. 

Mrs.  Alfred  Boardman — shell  comb,  pitcher,  cup  and  saucer, 
formerly  belonging  to  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Lucinda  (Richmond) 
Woodward;  bead  watch  chain  formerly  the  property  of  her  father, 
David  Woodward,  Jr.,  and  a  last  and  pair  of  shoes  made  by  him  at 
the  age  of  seven  years:  a  punch  glass  once  owned  by  her  grand- 
father, Capt.  Asa  Arnold;  string  of  gold  beads  and  a  needle  book 
formerly  belonging  to  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Jemima  (Hodges) 
Arnold. 

Isaac  E.  French — pewter  goblet,  spoon  mould,  cheese  knife, 
riint  lock  pistol,  a  wooden  lock;  Indian  relics  found  in  Berkley. 

Mrs.  Charles  Wade — two  pitchers,  bowl,  teapot,  bullet  case, 
each  over  a  century  old. 

Mrs.  Simeon  Briggs — fruit  tray  loo  years  old  formerly  belong- 
ing to  Miss  Mary   Richmond. 

Mrs.  Elijah  Wilbur — two  candlesticks  125  and  80  years  old 
respectively;  china  plate  80  years  old. 

Dexter  Babbitt — pair  of  bellows  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  Elkanah  Pierce — homespun  becl  quilt,  long  cloak,  table 
spoon  made  from  silver  dollars  each  over  a  centur\'  old:  mi]it;iry 
hat  75  years  old;  penmanship  of  1810:  pair  of  slippers  50  years 
old;  two  bags,  two  collars,  shell  comb,  embroidery,  cap,  hand 
painted  ribbon,  teapot,  sugar  bowl,  cups  and  saucers,  cake  plate: 
creamer  66  years  old:  book  of   1765. 

Mrs.  Sumner  D.  Briggs — a  plate  100  \ears  old. 

Mrs.  Jethro  Ashlev — pitcher  and  punch  glass  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  Daphne  Crane — inkstand  owned  formerly  by  Luther 
Crane:  specimens  of  the  penmanship  of  Hon.  Samuel  French,  at 
the  age  of  75  years;  weaver's  shuttle  150  years  old. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Babbitt — a  miniature  vessel,  outside  shell  of  cas- 
tana  nut,  two  pewter  porringers,  platter,  basin,  and  two  plates  each 
over  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  Henry  Hathaway — red  circular  cloak  formerly  the  prop- 
erty of  Mrs.  James   Webster. 


2l8  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Corey — sun  glass  owned  by  her  father,  Capt.  Tani- 
crlane  Burt;  lace  v^eil  formerly  belonging  to  her  mother,  Mrs.  Phebe 
(Crane)  Burt;  tea  set,  two  very  old  pepper  bottles,  pitchers:  a  plate 
150  years  old;  lamp  mat  embroidered  by  Mrs.  Anna  (Williams) 
Dean,  daughter  of  Gideon  and  Abigail  (Burt)  Williams. 

Miss  Nancy  I.  Burt — case  of  bottles  brought  from  the  West 
Indies  by  her  father,  Capt.  Tamerlane  Burt. 

Giles  L.  Leach — sword  made  by  a  native  of  Sandwich  Islands: 
large  number  of  Indian  relics. 

Mrs.  Giles  L.  Leach — eye  glasses  and  warming  pan  150  years 
old.  formerly  the  property  of  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey,  first  minister  of 
Berkley:  a  sermon  preached  by  same  in  1737:  pitcher  1 10  years 
old  imported  by  and  bearing  the  monogram  of  the  same;  ancient 
watch;  a  sermon  by  Rev.  Ephraim  Judson:  pewter  platter,  plate, 
porringer,  old  singing  book. 

George  H.  Bowers — picture  of  the  "  f>rig  Commerce,"  painted 
in  Italy,  in  1792;  portrait  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Bowers,  painted  in 
Holland  in  1808. 

Maria  Bowers — trunk  200  years  old. 

Annie  M.  Bowers — piece  of  a  wedding  dress,  1744:  chatelaine 
bag,  salve,  cake  basket,  pickle  dish,  bobbin  block. 

Mrs.  George  Strange — dictionary  of  1788  formerly  belonging 
to  Thomas  Strange;  skein  of  homespun  linen  thread. 

Mrs.  Andrew  Coville — portrait  of  her  father,  Joseph  liaskins; 
tea  pot  150  years  old. 

Mrs.  H.  A.  Dean — portrait  of  Dea.  Thomas  C.  Dean;  cup 
and  saucer  160  years  old;  copy  of  the  "Boston  Gazette,"  1733; 
silver  porringer  125  years  old;  pair  of  scales  used  by  Dr.  Bullock; 
tea  spoon  150  years  old;  cup  and  saucer,  and  punch  bowl  each  over 
a  century  old;  table  spoon  93  years  old. 

Mrs.  Thomas  C.  Dean — three  plates  formerly  belonging  to 
Sally  and  Lydia  Hodges,  grand  daughters  of  William  Hodges,  wlio 
came  to  America  about  1633  and   settled  in  Taunton  before  1643. 

.Mrs.  Julius  Haskins — platter;  plate,  bunch  of  Ha.\. 

Mrs.  Alfred  Pierce — china  teapot. 

Miss  Ellen  Burt — two  china  plates  150  years  old;  skirt  em- 
broidered   50    years    ago    by    Mrs.    Matilda    (liiirt)   lUnt.   wife  of 


DONATION'     AND    LOAN"     KXHIMIT.  2  I9 

Thomas  Burt:  skirt  embroidered  150  years  ago  by  Mrs.  Rebecca 
(Macomben  Hurt,  wife  of  Edmund  Burt:  pair  uf  slippers,  silver 
candlesticks  and  two  work  bags  owned  by  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Burt) 
Burt,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Burt:  pair  of  knee  buckles,  shoe  buckles, 
sleeve  buttons  and  silk  stockings  formerly  owned  by  ("apt.  Edmund 
Burt:  a  coin  of  1778:  sugar  tongs  100  years  old:  two  tea  spoons 
200  years  old. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Dean — tlax  wheel  100  years  old:  hand  reel:  a 
Bible  of  1794. 

Mrs.  Rhoda  Hathaway — sugar  bowl  once  the  property  of  Mrs. 
Rhoda  (Hathaway)  Nichols:  a  pitcher  owned  by  Mrs.  Betsey 
(Weaver)  Dean:  a  tea  pot  belonging  to  Mrs.  Annie  ( Clifford )  Shove, 
wife  of  Theophilus  Shove. 

Samuel  S.  Pierce — wooden  plate  200  years  old  formerl)-  the 
property  of  Martin  and  Wessiah  Fierce;  pair  of  brass  candlesticks; 
watch  case  200  years  old  ownec}  by  Enoch  Boyce:  pipe  box  for- 
merly belonging  to  (leorge  Shove,  a  grandson  of  Rev.  George 
Shove  of  Taunton. 

Mrs.  Samuel  S.  Pierce — infant's  shoes  worn  b\-  Jeremiah 
Pierce  over  100  years  ago:  wedding  suit  75  years  old  worn  by  Mrs. 
Jeremiah  Pierce. 

MANSFIELD. 

Elkanah  Hall — sermons  by  Cotton  Mather,  1690:  sermon  by 
Rev.  Joseph  Palmer  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Roland  (Ireen:  sermon 
preached  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Pitt  Clarke,  in  1793;  Scripture 
passages  acrostically  arranged  by  Miss  Abby  Doggett:  two  copies 
of  "Dedham  Gazette,"  Mar.  25th  and  April  ist,  1814:  copy  of 
"The  Yankee, "'  Apr.  i,  1814;  silver  bowl  225  years  old,  brought 
to  this  country  by  George  Watson;  a  picture  of  the  oldest  house 
in  Mansfield,  built  about  1700   by  Dea.   Nicholas  White. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Green — portrait  of  Rev.  Roland  Green. 

Mrs.  Robert  G.  Parker — mourning  piece. 

liOSTON. 

Mrs.  M.  Day  Kimball — -scales  used  and  buckles  worn  by 
Nathaniel  Morton    in    iSth   centurv:   two   siher  spoons   and  silver 


220  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ladle   belonging  to   the  Morton    family;  the  belt,  epaulettes   and 
stirrups,  worn  by  Gov.  Marcus  Morton,  at  his  inauguration,  in  1840. 
Hon.  Samuel  C.   Cobb — portraits   of   his   grandfathers,   Gen. 
David  Cobb,  and  Hon.  Samuel  Crocker. 

FALL     RIVER. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Fry — a  wooden  sugar  bowl  over  150  years  old. 

BRIDGEWATER. 

Horatio  B.  King — sword  carried  by  John  King  of  Raynham. 
in  the  Revolutionary  \\'ar;  cartridge  box  carried  by  him  at  tbe 
Battle  of  Bennington. 

PORTLAND,     .MALXE. 

Mrs.  W'yer  Green — shoe  buckles  worn  by  her  ancestor,  Lieut. 
Josiah  Smith,  an  officer  in  the  French   and  Revolutionary  Wars. 

PORTSMOUTH,    R.     I. 

Mrs.  William  E.  Cook,  who  is  in  her  90th  year — china  cup, 
saucer  and  plate  each  220  years  old;  a  wooden  vegetable  dish  200 
years  old. 

The  foregoing  revised  list  of  loan  exhibits  has  been  carefully 
prepared  by  Mr.  Isaac  W.  Wilcox,  for  this  book  of  the  anniversary 
celebration  under  the  supervision  of  the  committee  assigned  the 
interesting  duties. 

J.   W.   D.   Hall,  Chairman. 


REI'ORl      Ol-     tO.NLMI  rrKi:     ox      DOX.VTIOX      AND     LOAN     KXHllMT. 

The  committee,  appointed  bv  the  joint  committee  of  the  250th 
anniversary,  for  the  loan  exhibit  in  Historical  hall,  assembled  on 
the  afternoon  of  May  6th,  to  prepare  for  the  entertainment  during 
the  celebration,  and  comprised,  after  a  few  additions  and  changes, 
as  follows  :  John  W.  D.  Hall,  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  John  F. 
Montgomery,  Mrs.  R.  Henry  Hall,  Mrs.  Joseph  J.  Cooper,  Mrs. 
Elisha  T.  Jackson,  Mrs.  S.  R.  'I'ownsend,  Mrs.  Nathalie  E.  Baylies, 
Mrs.  Charles  L.  Lovering,  Mrs.  Henry  G.  Reed,  Mrs.  Henry  M. 
Levering,    Mrs.  Fred.  L.   Fish,    Miss    Adeline    S.    Ijaylies,    Miss 


DOXATIDX     WD     LOAN     EXHIIin'.  22  1 

Sarah  B.  \\Mlliams,  Mrs.  George  Brabrook,  Mrs.  John  Paull,  Mrs. 
Walter  J.  Clenison,  Mrs.  Frederick  Mason,  Mrs.  Frank  L.  Fish, 
.Mrs.  Joseph  Dunbar,  Mrs.  Joseph  Philbrick,  all  of  Taunton;  Miss 
Harriot  Augusta  Newcomb,  Norton  ;  Mrs.  Ebenezer  Andrews  and 
Mrs.  John  A.  Rose,  Dighton ;  Mrs.  Olive  J.  Gilmore  and  Mrs. 
John  O.  Dean,  Easton ;  Miss  Amy  Leonard  and  Mrs.  Alcott 
J.  Lincoln,  Raynhani  ;  Mrs.  Charles  Corey  and  Mrs.  Alfred  Board- 
man,  Berkley. 

After  a  brief  encouraging  address  by  the  chairman,  tiie  ladies 
were  assigned  to  duty  in  the  wards  and  adjacent  towns.  For 
three  weeks  they  devoted  their  faithful  services  in  soliciting  do- 
nation and  loan  co-operations  in  hundreds  of  residences,  resulting 
in  the  most  interesting  and  successful  exhibition  of  the  kind  ever 
witnessed  in  Taunton,  surprising  to  all  visitors  and  to  themselves 
in  the  vast  accumulation,  varied  extent  and  value  of  the  attractions. 

Two  lines  of  portraits  of  revered  men  and  women,  passed 
away,  were  arranged  upon  the  walls  of  Historical  Hall,  while  eight 
glass  cases  were  filled  with  contributions  of  choice  articles  of  every 
description,  tastefully  arranged — ancient  books,  silver  ware,  rare 
gems  of  virtu,  crockery,  coins,  heirlooms  and  keepsakes  of  his- 
toric interest,  which  had  been  treasured  from  family  to  family  for 
years  or  centuries,  embroideries  of  unique  patterns,  photographs 
and  medallions  of  those  cherished  in  memory.  Also  a  table  the 
length  of  the  hall  well  filled  with  numerous  small  portraits,  pic- 
tures and  rare  articles  of  antiquarian  curiosity,  origin  and  interest. 

The  old-fashioned  kitchen,  improvised  in  the  basement,  Asso- 
ciated Charities  room,  by  Miss  Newcomb,  of  Norton,  assisted  by 
Mrs.  Gilmore,  of  Easton,  Mrs.  Corey  and  Mrs.  Boardman  of 
Berkley,  with  its  ancient  fireplace,  its  crane,  ''pot  hooks  and  tram- 
mels," unique  furniture,  chairs  and  cases,  made  up  an  interesting- 
attraction  for  the  young  and  old,  many  of  whom  were  surprised  at 
the  specimens  of  household  implements  of  the  mothers  of  a  cen- 
tury ago. 

For  the  careful  arrangement  of  the  loans,  numbering  a  thou- 
sand or  more,  by  the  ladies,  and  to  their  patient  attendance  and 
supervision  during  the  four  days'  throng  of  eight  or  ten  thousand 


222  QUARTER    Mir,LENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

\isitois,  must  be  accorded  the  oratifying  success  of  the  exhibition 
and  entertainment:  and  it  was  a  cause  of  congratulation  to  the 
contributors,  to  the  committee  and  all  concerned,  that,  of  the 
numerous  articles  on  exhibition,  none  have  been  lost  or  missing. 
It  was  an  auspicious  auxiliary  of  the  natal  celebration  of  Taun- 
ton, long  to  be  remembered  by  participants  and  visitors. 
In  behalf  of  the  committee, 

John  W.  D.   Hall.  Chairman. 


KXPLANATORY  NOTE.— The  AVaid  Coiiimittee.s  of  Taunton,  appointed  to  soli<it, 
and  to  liave  eliarse  ol  the  vaiions  exhibits,  did  not  in  every  ease  confine  themselves 
stiiiitly  to  ward  lines  ;  this  accounts  ior  a  lew  of  the  exhibits  bein^  represented  in 
adjacent  wards,  other  than  their  own. 


ANCIENT  LEONARD  MANSION  "HOUSE  OF  SEVEN  GABLES' 
i)t  Capt.  James  Leonard,  in  Taunton  1700— Raynham  1731. 


OLD  GAMBREL  ROOFED  HOUSE. 
Opposite  the  First  lion  Works  of  Taunton,  ICoO— Ilayiiliani  1731, 


[The  ahove  illustrations  are  from  Elislia  Clarke  Leonard's  paper  on  "Ancient  Iron  Works  and 
Leonard  .Mansions,"  Collections  No.  4,  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  kindly  loaned  for  tins  book.] 


MEMORIAL  TABLETS. 


Tablets  commemorative  of  historic  persons  and  places 
were  erected  prior  to  the  250th  Anniversar\'  Celebration,  as 
follows : 

IN    TAUNTON. 

Site  of  the  First  Meeting  House  in  'raunton,  erected  prior  to 
1647.  Tablet  near  the  west  entrance  to  the  Unitarian  Church 
grounds. 

Home  of  Richard  Williams,  1637 — 1692.  On  the  estate  152 
Dean  street. 

Home  of  George  Hall,  1637 — 1669.  On  the  estate  of  his  de- 
scendants, 220  years,  now  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Washburn's,  128  Dean 
street. 

Home  of  John  Deane,  1637 — 1660.  On  the  estate  of  his  de- 
scendants 229  years,  now  Benjamin  T.  Kinnicutt's,  74  Deah 
street. 

Home  of  Walter  Deane,  1637 — 1693.  On  estate  of  Samuel 
C.  Morey,  Dean  street. 

Home  of  John  Pole.  1637  — 1659.  On  Morey's  block.  Main 
street. 

Home  of  John  Richmond,  1637 — 1664.  On  estate  of  Jona- 
than Richmond,  a  descendant.  East  Taunton. 

Home  of  Rev.  William  Hook,  first  minister  of  Taunton. 
1638 — 1644.     On  City  Hall,  opposite  site  of  first  meeting  house. 


224  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Home  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Street,  associate  and  second  minister 
of  I'aunton,  1638 — 1659.  On  premises  of  William  Henry  Fox, 
corner  SjDrino;  and  Summer  streets. 

Homestead  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Pole,  1639 — 1653.  On  build- 
ing of  Josephus  William  Leonard  Wilbur,  93  Main  street. 

Home  of  Thomas  Lincoln,  1652 — 1683.  On  L.  B.  West's 
store. 

Home  of  Elizabeth  Pole,  1653 — 1654.  On  estate  of  James 
H.   Dean,  94  Dean  street  corner  of  Winter  street. 

Home  of  Shadrach  Wilbore,  1656 — 1697.  On  estate  of 
Charles  L.  Lovering,  10  Dean  street. 

Home  of  John  Reed,  1680 — 1697.  On  land  of  Henry  G. 
Reed.  In  possession  of  the  Reed  family  since  1680.  near  resi- 
dence of  Edwin  Reed,  Highland  street. 

Homestead  of  Elder  Henry  Hodges,  1681  — 1717-  On  en- 
gine house  in  Ward  2. 

Home  of  Augustine  Cobb,  1683 — 17 17.  On  Tremont  street, 
about  four  miles  west  of  Green. 

Home  of  Richard  Stephens,  1683 — 1722.  On  store  of  L.  B. 
West,  Winthrop  street. 

Home  of  Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  1688 — 1727.  Corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Park  street. 

Home  of  Rev.  Thomas  Clap,  1729 — 1738.  On  grounds  of 
('apt.  Timothv  Gordon,  Dean  street. 

Home  of  Hon.  Samuel  \\'hite.  1739 — 1769.  At  residence  of 
Capt.  William  H.  Phillips,  on  White  street 

Home  of  Rev.  Josiah  Crocker.  1742 — 1774.  In  southeast 
corner  of  Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery. 

Home  of  Brig.  Gen.  Geo.  Godfrey,  1756 — 1793.  Near  resi- 
dence of  Miss  Angeline  Godfrey,  Tremont  street. 

Home  of  Nicholas  Baylies,  1757 — 1807.  Opposite  North 
Dighton  Foundry  office. 


MEMORIAL    TABLETS.  22  5 

Home  of  Brig.  Gen.  James  Williams,  1768 — 1826.  On  lane 
leading  to  residence  of  Mrs.  N.  E.  Baylies,  County  street. 

Home  of  Rev.  Caleb  Barnum,  1769 — 1776.  On  building  of 
Massachusetts  Trust  Company,  corner  of  Main  and  Lincoln 
streets. 

Home  of  Robert  Treat  Paine,  1769 — 1781.  On  front  of 
Taunton  National  Bank. 

Home  of  Samuel  Leonard,  1776 — 1807.  On  his  late  mansion 
house  Bay  street. 

Home  of  Judge  Seth  Padleford,  1777 — 1810.  East  of  the 
Court  House. 

Homestead  of  Gen.  David  Cobb,  1779 — 1796.  On  City  Lot, 
west  of  Taunton  Green. 

Home  of  Rev.  Ephraim  Judson,  1782 — 1790.  On  homestead 
of  Miss  Georgianna  Wheaton,  High  street,  south  of  St.  Thomas' 
Church. 

Home  of  Rev.  John  Pipon,  1803 — 182 1.  On  estate  of  A,  E. 
Swasey,  High  street. 

Home  of  Samuel  Crocker.  1818 — 1843.  On  lawn  front  of 
Samuel  C.  Cobb's  residence. 

Home  of  Charles  Richmond,  1825 — 1843.  On  the  Barton 
estate  Summer  street. 

Home  of  Francis  Baylies,  1836 — 1852.  On  Taunton  resi- 
dence of  Judge  Edmund  H.  Bennett. 

Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery,  donated  by  Samuel  Crocker  in 
1836.     In  rear  of  Samuel  L.  Crocker's  burial  lot. 

Tablets  were  prepared  for  Henry  Andrews,  1637 — 1652; 
William  Phillips,  1637 — 1654;  William  Parke,  1637 — 1661; 
James  Walker,  1643 — 1691  ;  Rev.  George  Shove,  (3d  minister  of 
Taunton,)  1665 — 1687;  but  the  descendants  of  the  above  have 
been  unable  to  locate  their  last  residence  and  the  Committee 
await  the  information. 


226  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  Committee  on  Historic  Places  and  Memorial  Tab- 
lets in  Norton  made  an  extended  and  interesting"  report  as 
follows  : 

[Report  of  Committee  on  Monuments.] 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  I'cm'fi  of  A^orton. 

Gentlemen: — At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Town  in  April 
last  there  was  chosen  a  committee  of  three  viz:  Sam'l  A.  Chapin, 
W.  D.  Witherell  and  William  A.  Sturdy,  to  locate  and  erect  three 
monuments  with  suitable  inscriptions  thereon  regarding  "The 
First  House,"  "The  First  Church,"  and  "The  Chartley  Iron 
Works,"  erected  in  said  Town  of  Norton. 

This  action  was  prompted  by  the  occurrence  on  the  4th  of 
June  of  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  Settlement  of  Taunton,  of 
which  Norton  was  originally  a  portion,  and  became  the  "First 
Daughter"  of  Taunton  to  set  up  for  herself,  in  17  11.  Your  com- 
mittee have  performed  the  duties  assigned  them  and  beg  leave  to 
report  as  follows : 

The  monument  for  "The  First  House"  is  placed  on  the  east 
side  of  the  "  Bay  road "  leading  from  Taunton  to  Winnecunnet 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Pond,  and  distant  fifty  feet  from  the  Pond 
and  eleven  hundred  feet  north  of  the  bridge  at  the  outlet  of  said 
Pond.  This  bridge  is  the  dividing  line  between  the  towns  of  Nor- 
ton and  Taunton. 

The  slab  erected  is  a  blue  slate  stone  (from  a  neighboring 
hill)  II  feet  long,  28  in.  wide  and  6  in.  thick,  set  in  the  ground 
four  feet,  and  six  feet  out  of  the  ground,  with  a  smooth  natural  sur- 
face on  the  front  face  to  receive  the  inscription.  The  top  is  shaped 
like  a  gable  roof. 

The  inscription  is  as  follows: — "Site  of  the  First  House  in 
Norton.  Built  by  William  Witherell,  A.  D.  1669.  Erected  by 
order  of  the  Town  A.  D.  1889."  Here  this  pioneer  lived  with 
"Dorothy  "  his  wife  and  three  sons,  William,  Jr.,  19  years  of  age 
and  John  of  5   years,  and  Ephraim  and  a  daughter  "Dorothy." 

Here  they  lived  amid  the  discomforts  of  pioneer  life  and  the 
dangers  of  the  Indian  Wars  under  King  Philip,  in  which  "Saigean| 


MEMORIAL    TABLETS.  22/ 

W'itherell "  took  an  active  part  and  suffered  severely  for  a  long 
period  from  wounds  received  in  the  great  battle  at  Narragansett 
Swamp.  For  which  brave  service  the  Court  made  him  a  grant  of 
land  and  fifteen  pounds  sterling.  Here  they  kept  the  first  "public 
house"  in  Norton,  and  in  1685  he  was  licensed  to  "retail  cider, 
beer  and  strong  liquors.  " 

The  depression  of  the  old  cellar  is  now  plainly  to  be  seen  with 
scattered  stone  and  pieces  of  brick  and  mortar.  This  location  was 
a  choice  one  for  a  pioneer.  The  beautiful  and  enchanting  Pond 
gave  them  an  abundance  of  water  and  fish  and  ducks.  The  seven 
generations  of  W'itherells  scattered  all  around  us,  testify  to  the 
vigor  of  this  old  pioneer  race. 

The  monument  erected  to  mark  the  site  of  the  "Chartley  Iron 
Works,"  situate  on  Stony  Brook,  near  the  old  mansion,  built  by 
Captains  Thomas  and  James  Leonard  more  than  200  years  ago, 
about  one  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Norton  Centre,  is  a  slab  of  pol- 
ished Quincy  granite  26  in.  long,  16  1-2  in.  wide  and  6  in.  thick. 
It  is  set  in  the  brick  wall  of  the  jewelry  factory  owned  by  \Xm.  A. 
Sturdy  and  occupied  by  Engley,  Witherell  &  Co. 

The  inscription  is  as  follows  : — "  Site  of  Chartley  Iron  Works. 
Built  1696  by  Thomas  and  James  Leonard.  This  Tablet  ordered 
by  the  Town  of  Norton  1889." 

The  records  of  Norton  state  that  these  works  were  in  opera- 
tion for  a  hundred  years  or  more,  and  brought  great  wealth  to  the 
Leonard  family.  The  antiquarian  may  here  find  material  for  much 
reflection  as  this  panorama  of  200  years  passes  before  him. 

The  old  "Iron  Forge"  turned  out  its  bars  of  iron  (^in  those 
days  when  coin  was  scarce)  which  were  made  a  "legal  tender" 
for  the  payment  of  taxes  and  other  public  dues,  and  were  also 
used  in  making  bequests  and  bridal  gifts. 

Now  the  Iron  Forge  has  disappeared  and  given  place  to  the 
manufacture  of  gold  and  silver  ornaments,  which  are  esteemed  as 
things  of  greater  beauty  than  "bars  of  iron."  And  the  old  bell 
which  hung  in  the  belfry  (now  in  place)  on  the  carriage  house  near 
I  he  old  Leonard  mansion  then  rang  out  notes  of  human  bondage 
and  called  the  slaves  to  their  enforced  work,  and  afterward  it 
pealed  the  glad  sound  of  freedom  to  all  in  the  state,  this  being  the 


228  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

last  locality  to  break  the  shackles.  That  same  old  bell  may  now 
be  seen  and  heard  in  the  tower  on  Oliver  H.  Lane's  great  barn  near 
Chartley,  where  its  welcome  ring  calls  the  laborers  to  their  meals. 

The  monument  for  "The  First  Church"  is  also  of  Quincy 
granite,  7  feet  long,  18  in.  square,  rustic  finish,  the  corners  are 
hammered  and  finished,  the  top  is  rounded  from  each  side  and  fin- 
ished. 

The  inscription  on  one  side  finely  polished  is  as  follows: — 
"  Site  of  First  Church  in  Norton.  Built  A.  D.  17  10.  This  post 
ordered  by  the  Town  1889.  " 

It  stands  three  and  a  half  feet  above  the  ground  and  is  near 
the  centre  of  the  common  (enclosed  by  an  iron  fence)  at  Norton 
Centre. 

A  second  church  was  built  in  1753  about  ten  feet  distant, 
westerly,  from  the  first  church,  and  was  supplanted  in  1835  by  the 
church  now  occupied  on  the  south  side  of  the  common. 

The  first  three  pastorates  of  these  churches  are  remarkable 
for  the  great  length  of  time  covered  by  them. 

The  first  minister  was  Rev.  Joseph  Avery  from  17 10  to  1748 
— 38  years.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Newman,  of  Rehoboth,  at  the 
beginning  of  his  pastorate. 

The  first  parsonage,  a  hundred  yards  west  of  the  first  church, 
still  remains  in  good  order. 

Mr.  Avery  died  in  Norton,  April  23,  1770,  aged  83  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  Palmer  was  the  second  pastor,  from  1752  to  1791 
— 38  years. 

Rev.  Pitt  Clarke  was  the  third  pastor,  from  1793  to  1835 — 42 
years.     He  died  in  Norton,  Feb'y  13,  1835,  aged  72  years. 

These  three  pastorates  make  out  the  round  period  of  108  years. 

Your  Committee  desire  to  call  attention  to  "The  First  Bury- 
ing Ground  "  used  by  the  pioneer  settlers  of  our  Town. 

It  lies  east  of  the  site  of  the  "First  House  "  and  distant  there- 
from 193  yards,  very  near  the  edge  of  the  cranberry  marsh.  Jt 
commences  at  the  fence,  is  60  feet  in  width  and  extends  back  east- 
erlv  1 10  feet.     Across  the  west  end  there  are  four  rows  containing 


MEMORIAL    TABLETS.  229 

from  35  to  40  graves  without  any  stones  or  inscriptions  to  tell  us 
the  names  of  the  buried  ones. 

It  is  supposed  that  here  lie  William  Witherell  the  first  settler 
and  his  family,  and  also  those  who  were  killed  in  the  early  Indian 
wars. 

5th  Row. — Here  are  only  two  names  inscribed.  Reuel  Deane. 
1829,  and  his  wife,  1839. 

6th  Row. — Only  rough  stones,  no  inscriptions  or  dates,  but 
Mr.  W.  Dexter  Witherell  states  that  his  great  grandfather,  Henry 
Witherell,  and  his  wife  and  their  three  children  were  buried  in 
that  row. 

7th  Row. — Only  one  name  inscribed.  That  of  Reuel  Deane,' 
Jr.,    1805. 

8th  Row. — Jesse  Lincoln  and  his  relatives. 

9th  Row. — David  Lincoln  died  1822  age  95  years,  and  his 
family  of  three  or  four  persons;  also  the  grave  of  the  second  wife 
of  the  old  grandfather  Witherell. 

loth  Row. — Daniel  Woodward  and  family  of  seven  or  eight 
persons. 

This  burying-ground  was  abandoned  a  long  time  ago  for  sev- 
eral reasons : 

First.  —  It  was  not  more  than  4  or  5  feet  higher  than  the  marsh 
and  the  water  came  into  the  graves. 

Second. — No  conveyance  was  ever  made  to  set  it  apart  as  a 
public  cemetery. 

Third. — It  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant  from  a  public  road, 
and  could  only  be  reached  by  passing  through  private  grounds. 
This  burying-place  (in  a  large  open  pasture")  is  without  a  fence  or 
protection  from  the  tramping  of  sheep  or  cattle  ranging  in  the  field. 

Our  worthy  historian,  Rev.  George  Faber  Clark,  uses  this  im- 
pressive language  regarding  a  burying-ground  similarly  neglected. 
"It  presents  a  most  gloomy  aspect  and  a  melancholy  commentary 
upon  the  public  spirit  of  the  town,  and  we  hope  for  the  honor  and 
credit  of  the  town  that  these  habitations  of  the  dead  will  not  re- 
main long  in  their  present  poverty  stricken  condition.  " 


230  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  field  next  to  the  road,  where  the  first  house  stood,  belon<fs 
to  Silas  W.  Lincoln,  and  the  field  adjoining  where  the  graves  are, 
belongs  to  the  heirs  of  Sumner  W.  Lincoln  or  to  Lloyd  S.  Lincoln, 
who  will  undoubtedly  give  a  title  to  this  lot  60  feet  by  1 10  feet  in 
size. 

Your  committee  will  urge  the  town  to  make  an  apj^ropriation 
of  $100  toward  enclosing  this  "first  burying-ground "  with  suitable 
stone  posts  and  bars  of  tube  iron. 

In  conclusion,  your  committee  will  state  that  the  amount  ap- 
propriated by  the  Town  for  these  monuments  was  $50,  and  the 
amount  expended  by  the  committee  was  about  $110. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Sam'i,  a.  Chaptn, 

W.    D.   WiTHERELL. 

William  A.  Sturdy. 

D  I  GHTON    TA  BLETS. 

Home  of  Thomas  Coram,  1699 — 1703.  Front  of  residence 
of  Cieorge  A.  Shove. 

Site  of  First  Church,  1709 — 1765.  Front  of  present  First 
Church. 

Home  of  Col.  Sylvester  Richmond,  1735 — 1765.  On  Rich- 
mond Hill,  south  of  Lower  Four  Corners. 

Home  of  Hodijah  Baylies,  1787 — 1843.  At  residence  of 
Charles  N.  Simmons. 

RAVNHAM    TABLETS. 

Site  of  Taunton  Iron  Works. — First  in  Old  Colony.  ( )n  site 
of  old  Forge. 

Home  of  James  Leonard,  Senior,  1664 — 1691.  On  Hatha- 
way's  land,  bank  of  Forge  pond. 

Home  of  Major  Thomas  I^eonard,  1664 — 1713.  On  J.  P. 
Spinney's  place,  opposite  old   Forge  site. 


MEMORIAL    TABLETS.  23  I 

Home  of  ("apt.  I'hili])  King,  1683 — 1710.  On  Edward  B. 
King's  place. 

Home  of  Capt.  James  Leonard,  Gable  House,  1700 — 1726. 
( )ii  Will.  S.  IJriggs'  place,  near  the  road. 

Home  of  Capt.  Israel  Washburn,  1718 — 1796.  Front  of  (he 
old  mansion,  Gushee  and  Washburn  streets. 

BERKLEY    TABLETS. 

Home  of  John  Hathway,  1658 — 1705.  On  land  purchased  of 
Rev's  Nicholas  Street  and  William  Hook,  now  called  "The  Farms."' 

Site  of  First  Church,  1737 — 1800.  South  of  the  Common, 
west  side    of  the  road  where  the  third  meeting  house  now  stands. 

Home  of  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey,  1737  — 1781.  On  land  now 
owned  by  Elizabeth  Wilbur  east  of  the  Common. 

Home  of  Judge  Samuel  Tobey,  1768 — 1823.  On  land  owned 
by  Stephen  A.  Burt,  north  of  the  Common.  His  house  now 
standing  in  good  repair. 

Home  of  Rev.  Thomas  Andro?,  1799 — 1849.  On  land  of  his 
son  .Milton  Andros,  the  last  estate  in  the  town  of  Berkley  on  the 
road  In  Freetown.      His  house  still  standing. 

.MANSFIELD    TABLETS. 

Cobbler's  Corner, — 1640.  Northern  angle  of  Old  Taunton,  on 
estate  of  the  late  Daniel  Fisher,  off  Willow  street. 

First  Settler,  Thomas  Brintnell, — 1664.  On  West  street,  near 
Foxborough  line,  on  estate  of  Miss  Calista  Brintnell,  a  descendant 
of  sixth  generation. 

Home  of  Nicholas  White,  1703 — 1743.  On  Hall  street, 
Charles  E.  Hall's  residence,  descendant,  seventh  generation. 

First  Grist  Mill, — 17  19.  On  Willow  street,  near  the  shop  of 
T.  W.  Cabot  &  Son. 

First  Meeting  House, — 1731.     South  of  the  Green. 


232  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Home  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  White,  1737 — 1761.  On  South  Main 
street,  near  Joseph  D.  Leonard's  residence. 

Home  of  Col.  Ephraim  Leonard,  1739 — 1786.  On  Mill  street, 
East  Mansfield.  House  still  standing,  owned  by  George  W. 
Thomas. 

Home  of  Rev.  Roland  Green,  1761 — 1808.  On  XVest  street, 
near  Francis  A.  DeWolf's  residence. 


APPKNDIX. 


APPENDIX  A. 

[Page  31.] 
East  Taunton  was  formerly  called  Squawbelty,  a  name  prob- 
ably derived  from  an  Indian  squaw  called  Betty,  whose  Indian 
name  was  Assowetough,  unto  whom  a  tract  of  land  was  conveyed 
in  1673,  by  old  Walluspaquin  and  William  Walluspaquin  and 
which  on  her  death  she  devised  to  her  daughter  Mercey.  (12  Ply. 
Col.  Rec.  p.  235.)  The  above  named  Betty  was  sister  of  David 
Hunter  and  wife  of  John  Eechee  of  Titecutt,  and  on  David's 
death  without  children,  his  brothers  George  and  Joseph,  "being 
convinced  that  David  on  his  deathbed  desired  that  his  sister  Betty 
should  have  some  of  his  lands, "  made  a  partition  with  her,  by  deed 
dated  March  11,  1697,  whereby  she  was  to  have  that  part  of  said 
lands  "next  unto  Taunton  bounds  as  far  up  by  the  great  river  as 
to  ye  place  where  said  David  Hunter's  upermost  lYence  came  to  sd 
River,  to  fence  in  ye  neck  then  called  David's  neck. "  This  divi- 
sion is  recorded  in  XII  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  243,  in  these  words: — 

To  all  Christian  people  to  whome  these  presents  shall  come  Georjic 
Hunter  &  Joseph  Hunter  ye  sons  of  Thomas  Hunter  an  Indian  formerly 
living  at  Tittecut  an  Indian  Plantation  in  Plimouth  County  Send  Greet- 
ing (fee  Know  ye  that  whereas  Josias  alias  Charles  an  Indian  Sachem 
late  of  Mattakeessetiu  ye  County  of  Plimouth  deceased  did  in  his  life  time 
give  unto  David  Hunter  deceased  brother  unto  the  said  George  &  Joseph 
a  Tract  of  Lands  at  Tittecutt  above  said  as  maj^  appear  by  a  deed  vnder 
ye  hand  &  seal  of  sd  Josiah  dated  September  the  eighth  in  ye  year  168() 
reference  thereunto  being  had  And  whereas  the  sd  David  Hunter  hath 
now  no  child  surviving  and  said  George  &  Joseph  Hunter  being  con- 
vinced that  their  brother  David  on  his  death  bed  expressed  himself 
so  that  his  sister  Betty,  ye  wife  of  John  Eechee  of  sd  Titecutt  should 


234        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

liaue  some  of  yc  sd  lands  The  sd  C4eoi<:]fe  Hunter  &  Joseph  Hunter  do 
hereby  for  themselves  and  their  heirs  Executors  &  Administrators  agree 
with  each  other  and  with  their  sister  Betty  ye  wife  of  sd  John  Eechee 
their  Executors  and  Administrators  that  ye  lands  given  by  Josias  alias 
Charles  unto  sd  David  Hunter  as  in  said  deed  is  specified  shall  be  &  is 
by  these  presents  divided  as  folioweth  that  is  to  say  that  ye  said  Betty 
&  her  Indian  heirs  Executors  Administrators  &  Assigns  shall  forever 
hereafter  haue  and  hold  &  enjoy  that  part  of  sd  land  next  unto  Taunton 
bounds  &  as  far  up  by  the  great  river  as  to  ye  place  where  sd  David  Hun- 
ters upermost  ffence  came  to  sd  river  to  fence  in  ye  neck  then  called 
David's  neck  &  from  thence  on  a  direct  line  to  ye  bounds  betweenc 
Middleborow's  land  &  the  said  Indians  land  bearing  ye  same  bredth 
there  as  it  doth  at  ye  river  and  that  Isaac  Wanno  an  Indian  of  sd  Titte- 
cutt  &  his  Indian  heirs  &  assigns  shall  forever  hereafter  Have  &  hold  tt 
enjoy  twenty  acres  of  land  above  Tittecutt'greate  weair  cVr  next  unto  yc 
land  given  by  said  Josias  unto  old  Peter  late  of  sd  Titecutt  deceased 
said  twenty  acies  of  land  to  be  layd  as  square  as  convenienently  may  be 
by  ye  great  river  side  &  also  half  ye  grass  in  ye  next  neck  below  sd  ware 
And  all  ye  rest  of  sd  Tittecutt  lands  given  by  sd  Josias  unto  sd  David 
Hunter  by  sd  deed  to  be  equally  divided  between  George  Hunter  &  his 
Brother  Joseph  Hunter  sd  Georg  Hunter  &  his  Indian  heirs  &  assigns 
To  have  &  to  hold  &  forever  to  enjoy  that  part  next  to  what  said  Betty 
hath  &  the  sd  Joseph  Hunter  &  his  Indian  heirs  ife  assigns  To  have  & 
to  Hold  for  ever  that  part  next  to  ye  land  given  by  sd  Josias  unto  sd 
Peter  deceased  except  ye  twenty  acres  for  Isaac  Wanno  And  in  Testi- 
mony that  ye  said  George  Hunter  &  Joseph  Hunter  have  divided  sd 
lands  as  is  above  specified  &  that  it  is  to  ye  good  liking  &  acceptance  of 
sd  Betty  &  Isaac  Wanno,  these  persons  vizt  ye  said  George  Hunter, 
Joseph  Hunter,  Betty  ye  wife  of  John  Eechee  A-  sd  Isaac  Wanno  for 
themselves  &  their  heirs  executors  &  administrators  have  hereunto  set 
their  hands  &  affixed  their  seals  this  eleventh  day  of  March  In  ye  year 
of  Christ  lt50|  in  ye  tenth  year  of  ye  reign  of  William  ye  third  over  Eng- 
land Scotland  ffrance  &  Ireland  King  defender  of  ye  ffaith. 
Signed  sealed  and  Delivered  Signum  X  of 

In  ye  presence  of  us  GEORGE  HUNTEU  [seal| 

SAMUEL  PHILLIPS,  JOSEPH    HUNTER    [scall 

SAMUEL  LEONARD.  his  C        mark 

ELKANAH  LEONARD  The  9        mark  of 

BETTY  I  seal  1 

ISAAC  WANNO  |seal| 

March  ye  11th  161»|.     The  above  George  Hunter  tVr  Joseph  Hunter  & 

the   abovesaid    Betty  &    Isaac  Wanno  acknowledged  ye  above   written 

Instrument  to  be  their  own  free  act  &  deed 

Before  me,  THOMAS  LEONARD  justice. 


APPENDICES.  235 

Memorandum  That  on  ye  17th  day  of  September  17<»1  before  me  ye 

subscriber  Judoe  of  Probate  for  ye  County  of  Plimouth  personally  aj)- 

peared  the  above  named  George  Hunter  and  ye  abovesd  Betty  his  sister 

and  Isaac  Wanno  &  acknowledged   the   above  written  Instrument  to  be 

their  voluntary  act  &  deed.     And  I  do  approve  thereof  &  order  ye  same 

to  be  recorded. 

WILLIAM  BRADFORD 

Entered  &  recorded  October  28th  1701 

pr  SAML  SPRAGUE  Register. 

This  Indian  squaw  Betty  seems  to  have  had  an  unenviable 
notoriety,  for  previously  she  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of  her 
child,  and  also  of  her  husband,  though  not  convicted  of  either 
charge  as  appears  from  the  following  record  of  the  trials : 

At  a  General  Court  held  at  Plymouth,  in  July  1683,  it  was 
ordered  that 

"Whereas  Awashunkes,  and  her  daughter  Bettey,  and  her  son 
Peter,  were  brought  to  this  Court  on  suspition  of  theire  haueing  a  hand 
in  the  murthering  of  a  young  child  the  said  Bettey  had,  this  Court,  on 
examination  of  the  case,  the  said  Awashunkes  &  her  son  and  daughter 
sollemly  affeirming  the  said  child  to  be  dead  before  it  was  born,  and 
nothing  as  yett  appeering  to  the  contrary  vnto  the  Court,  they  therefore 
were  dismissed;  yett  in  regard  to  theire  ill  carriage  in  the  management 
of  that  affaire  concerning  a  woman  to  be  whippt  for  reporting  said 
Bettey  was  with  child,  when  soe  it  afterward  appeered  to  be  really  soe, 
the  Court  therefore  order  that  the  two  Indian  squaes,  that  were  appoint- 
ed to  search  the  said  Bettey,  affeirming  that  she  was  not  with  child, 
wherby  Sames  wife  was  whipt  for  the  report  aforsaid,  shall  pay,  each  of 
them  ten  shillings  in  good  current  pay  to  the  said  Sames  squaw;  and  the 
said  Bettey  to  pay  to  her  the  sume  of  twenty  shillings  in  good  pay;  and 
each  of  the  three,  viz:  Awashunkes,  Bettey,  and  Peter,  twenty  shillings 
a  peece  towards  the  charge  of  theire  bringing  and  imprisonment;  and 
the  said  Bettey  to  be  whipt  by  the  Indians  at  Saconett,  for  her  fornica- 
tion; and  the  Indians  there  to  do  what  they  can  to  find  out  any  furthei' 
grounds  of  suspition  of  said  suspected  murdei",  and  if  there  appeer  fur- 
ther just  grounds  of  such  a  fact  comitted  by  any  of  them,  them  to 
cecure  and  send  to  the  English  authoritie,  to  be  dealt  with  all  according 
to  law.     (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  VL  Page  113.) 

At  a  General  Court  held  at  Plymouth,  March  5,  1684,  this 
order  was  passed : 

Att  this  Court  an  Indian  squa,  named  Betty,  was  indited  for  killing 
her  husband,  named  Great  Harry,  with  a  stone;  att  the  first,  being  ex- 


236  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

amined  by  the  lionered  Mr.  John  Walley,  .shee  deiiyed  it.  but  afterwaid.s 
owned  the  fact,  but  said  shee  did  not  intend  to  kill  him,  but  by  throw- 
ino'  of  a  stone  at  a  bottle  of  liquore  and  missinj;'  the  bottle,  shee  hitt  the 
said  Indian,  her  husband,  on  the  side  of  his  head,  whereof  bee  died. 
The  case  being  put  to  the  grand  jury,  they  brought  in  billa  very.  This 
being  referred  to  the  petty  jury,  they  found  the  said  Bettey,  Indian  squa, 
for  the  said  fact,  guilty  of  homiside  by  misadventure.  "  (Ply.  Col.  Rec. 
Vol.  VI.  Page  153.) 


APPENDIX  B. 

[I'age  32.] 

The    account    of  this  journey  in  Mourt's  Relation,  probably 
written  by  W'inslow  himself,  is  in  these  words: 

*'It  seemed  good  to  the  Company  for  many  considerations  to  send 
some  amongst  them  to  Massasoyt,  the  greatest  Commander  amongst  the 
Savages,  bordering  about  us;  partly  to  know  where  to  find  them,  if  oc- 
casion served,  as  also  to  see  their  strength,  discover  the  country,  pre- 
vent abuses  in  their  disorderly  coming  unto  us,  make  satisfaction  for 
some  conceived  injuries  to  be  done  on  our  parts,  and  to  contine  the 
league  of  Peace  and  Friendship  between  them  and  us.  For  these,  and 
the  like  ends  it  pleased  the  Governour  to  make  choice  of  Steven  Hop- 
kins tt  Edward  Winsloe  to  goe  unto  him  and  having  a  fit  opportunitie, 
by  reason  of  a  Savage  called  Tisquantum  (that  could  speak  English) 
comming  unto  us;  with  all  expedition  provided  a  Horse-mans  coat,  of 
red  cotton,  and  laced  with  a  slight  lace  for  a  present,  that  both  they  and 
their  message  might  be  the  more  acceptable  amongst  them.  The  mes- 
sage was  as  followeth:  That  forasmuch  as  his  subjects  came  often  and 
without  feare,  upon  all  occasions  amongst  us,  so  wee  were  now  come 
unto  him,  and  in  witness  of  the  love  and  good  will  the  English  beare 
unto  him;  the  Governour  hath  sent  him  a  coat,  desiring  that  the  Peace 
and  Amitie  that  was  between  them  and  us  might  be  continued,  not  that 
we  feared  them,  but  becau.se  we  intended  not  to  injure  any  desiring  to 
live  peaceably;  and  as  with  all  men  so  especially  with  them  our  nearest 
neighbours.  But  whereas  his  people  came  very  often,  and  very  many 
together  unto  us,  bringing  for  the  most  part  their  wives  and  children 
with  them  they  were  wellcome;  yet  we  being  but  strangers  as  yet  at 
Patuxet,  alias  New  Plimmouth,  and  not  knowing  how  our  Corne  might 
prosper,  we  could  no  longer  give  them  such  entertainment  as  we  had 
done,  and  as  we  desired  still  to  doe,  yet  if  he  would  be  pleased  to  come 
himselfe,  or  any  special  friend  of  his  desired  t(»  see  us,  comming  from 


AI'PENDIX.  237 

liim  they  would  be  wellcome ;  and  to  the  end  we  might  know  them  from 
otliers,  o>ir  Ciovernour  had  sent  him  a  copper  Chayne,  desirintr  if  any 
messenjjer  should  come  from  him  to  us,  we  might  know  it  by  bringing 
it  with  him,  and  hearken  and  give  credit  to  his  message  accordingly. 
Also  requesting  him  that  such  as  have  skins,  should  bring  them  to  us, 
and  that  he  would  hinder  the  multitude  from  oppresing  us  with  them, 
and  whereas  at  our  first  arrival  at  Paomet  (called  by  us  Cape  Cod)  we 
found  there  Corne  buried  in  the  ground,  and  finding  no  inhabitants  but 
some  graves  of  dead  new  buryed,  took  the  Corne,  resolving  if  ever  we 
could  heare  of  any  that  had  right  thereunto,  to  make  satisfaction  to  the 
full  for  it.  yet  since  we  understand  the  owners  thereof  were  fled  for 
feare  of  us,  our  desire  was  either  to  pay  them  with  the  like  quantitie  of 
Corne,  English  meale,  or  any  other  Commodities  we  had  to  pleasure 
them  withall ;  requesting  him  that  some  on  of  his  men  might  signifie  so 
much  unto  them,  and  we  would  content  him  for  his  paines.  And  last  of 
all  our  Governour  requested  one  favor  of  him,  which  was  that  he  would 
exchange  some  of  their  Corne  for  feede  with  us,  that  we  might  make 
tryall  which  best  agreed  with  the  soyle  where  we  live. 

With  these  presents  and  message  we  set  forward  the  tenth  June, 
about  9  a  clocke  in  the  Morning,  our  guide  i-esolving  that  night  to  rest 
at  Namaschet,  a  Towne  under  Massasoyt,  and  conceived  by  us  to  be  very 
neere,  because  the  Inhabitants  flocked  so  thicke  upon  evei-y  slight  occa- 
sion amongst  us;  but  wee  found  it  to  bee  some  fifteen  English  myles. 
On  the  way  we  found  some  ten  or  twelve  men  women  and  children, 
which  had  pestered  us,  till  wee  were  wearie  of  them,  perceiving  that  (as 
the  manner  of  them  all  is)  where  victuall  is  easliest  to  be  got.  there  they 
live,  especially  in  the  summer;  by  reason  whereof  our  Bay  affording 
many  Lobsters,  they  resort  every  spring  tide  thither:  &  now  returned 
with  us  to  Namaschet.  Thither  we  came  about  3  a  clocke  after  noone. 
the  Inhabitants  entertaining  us  with  joy,  in  the  best  manner  they  could, 
giving  us  a  kind  of  bread  called  by  them  Maizium,  and  the  spawne  of 
Shads,  which  then  they  got  in  abundance,  in  so  much  as  they  gave  us 
spoones  to  eate  them,  with  these  they  boj'led  niustie  Acorns,  but  of  the 
Shads  we  eate  heartily.  After  this  they  desired  one  of  our  men  to 
shoote  at  a  Crow,  complaining  what  damage  they  sustained  in  their 
Corne  by  them,  who  shooting  some  fourscore  off  and  killing,  they  much 
admired  it,  as  other  .shots  on  other  occasions.  After  this  Tisquantum 
told  us  wee  should  hardly  in  one  day  reach  Pakanokick,  moving  us  to 
goe  some  8  myles  further,  where  we  should  finde  more  store  and  better 
victauls  than  there.  Being  willing  to  hasten  our  journey  we  went,  and 
came  thither  at  Sunne  setting,  where  we  found  many  of  the  Nanias- 
chencks  (they  so  calling  the  men  of  Xamaschet)  fishing  uppon  a  Ware 
which  they  had  made  on  a  River  which  belonged  to  them,  where  they 
caught  abundance  of  Basse.     These  welcomed  us  also,  gave  us  of  their 


238  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

fish,  and  we  them  of  our  victuals,  not  doubting  but  we  should  have 
enough  where  ere  we  came.  There  we  lodged  in  the  open  fields;  for 
houses  they  had  none,  though  they  spent  the  most  of  the  Summer  there. 
The  head  of  this  River  is  reported  to  bee  not  farre  from  the  place  of  our 
abode,  upon  it  are,  and  have  been  many  Townes,  it  being  a  good  length. 
The  ground  is  very  good  on  both  sides,  it  being  for  the  most  part 
cleered:  Thousands  of  men  have  lived  there,  which  dyed  in  a  great 
plague  not  long  since:  and  pitty  it  was  and  is  to  see  so  many  goodly 
fields  &  so  well  seated,  without  men  to  dress  and  manure  the  same. 
Upon  this  River  dwelleth  Massasoyt:  It  commeth  into  the  Sea  at  the 
Narrohiganset  Bay,  where  the  French  men  so  much  use.  A  shipp  may 
go  many  myles  up  it,  as  the  Salvages  report  and  a  shallop  to  the  head  of 
it:  but  so  farre  as  wee  saw  wee  are  sure  a  shallop  may. 

But  to  returne  to  our  journey:  The  next  morning  wee  brake  our  fast, 
tooke  our  leave  and  departed,  being  then  accompanied  with  some  sixe 
Salvages,  having  gone  about  six  myles  by  the  River  side,  at  a  knowne 
shole  place,  it  beeing  low  water,  they  spake  to  us  to  put  off  our  breeches, 
for  we  must  wade  thorow.  Heere  let  me  not  for  get  the  vallour  and 
courrage  of  some  of  -the  Salvages,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  River,  for 
there  were  remaining  alive  only  2  men,  both  aged,  especially  the  one 
being  above  threescoure;  These  two  espying  a  company  of  men  enter- 
ing the  River  ran  very  swiftly  &  low  in  the  grasse  to  meet  us  at  the 
banck,  where  with  shrill  voyces  and  gi-eat  courage  standing  charged 
upon  us  with  their  bowes,  they  demanded  what  we  were,  supposing  us 
to  be  enemies,  and  thinking  to  take  advantage  on  us  in  the  water;  but 
seeing  we  were  friends  they  welcomed  us  with  such  foode  as  they  had, 
and  we  bestowed  a  small  bracelet  of  Beades  on  them.  Thus  farre  we 
are  sure  the  tide  ebbs  and  flows. 

Having  here  againe  refreshed  ourselves,  we  proceeded  in  our  jour- 
ney, the  weather  being  very  bote  for  travel,  yet  the  country  so  well 
watered  that  a  man  could  scarce  be  drie,  but  he  should  have  a  spring  at 
hand  to  coole  his  thirst,  beside  small  Rivers  in  abundance;  but  the  Salv- 
ages will  not  willingly  drinke,  but  at  a  Spring  head.  When  wee  came  to 
ariy  small  Brooke  where  no  bridge  was,  two  of  them  desired  to  carry  us 
through  of  their  owne  accorde  also  fearing  we  were  or  would  bee  wearie, 
(jffered  to  carry  our  peeces,  also  if  we  would  lay  off  any  of  our  clothes, 
we  should  have  them  carried;  and  as  the  one  of  them  had  found  more 
speciall  kindnesse  fiom  one  of  the  Messengers,  and  the  other  Salvage 
from  the  other  so  they  shewed  their  thankfulnesse  accordingly  in  afford- 
ing us  all  helpe  and  furtherance  in  the  journey. 

As  we  passed  along  wee  ob.served  that  there  were  few  places  by  the 
IMver,  but  had  beene  inhabited,  by  reason  whereof  much  ground  was 
clean;,  save  of  weeds  which  grew  higher  than  our  heads.  There  is  much 
good  Timber  both  Oake,  Walnut-tree.  Firre,  Beech  and  exceeding  great 


APPENllIX.  239 

Chestnut-trees.  The  country  in  respect  of  the  lying  of  it,  is  botli 
Cl)ampanie  and  hilly,  like  many  places  in  England.  In  some  places  its 
very  rookie  both  above  ground  and  in  it:  And  though  the  country  bee 
wilde  and  over-growne  with  woods,  yet  the  trees  stand  not  thicke,  but  a 
man  may  well  ride  a  horse  amongst  them. 

Passing  on  at  length,  one  of  the  company,  an  Indian,  espied  a  man, 
and  told  the  rest  of  it,  we  asked  them  if  they  feared  any,  they  told  us  if 
they  were  Narrohigganset  men  they  would  not  trust  them,  whereat,  we 
called  for  our  peeces  and  bid  them  not  to  feare:  for  though  they  were 
twenty,  we  two  alone  would  not  care  for  them:  but  they  hayling  him, 
he  proved  a  friend,  and  had  onely  two  women  with  him:  their  baskets 
were  empty,  but  they  fetched  water  in  their  bottles,  so  that  we  dranke 
with  them  and  departed.  After  we  met  another  man  with  two  women, 
which  had  beene  at  Randevow  by  the  salt  water,  and  their  baskets  were 
full  of  roasted  Crab  fishes,  and  other  dryed  shell  fish,  of  which  they  gave 
us,  and  we  eate  and  dranke  with  them :  and  gave  each  of  the  women  a 
string  of  Beades  and  departed. 

After  we  came  to  a  Towne  of  Massasoyts,  where  we  eat  Oysters  and 
other  fish.     From  thence  we  went  to  Packanokick.  " 

Although  this  account  says  they  set  forward  on  the  tenth  of 
June,  &c.,  other  writers,  such  as  Bradford's  "History  of  Plymouth 
Plantations'"  and  Morton's  "New  England  Memorial,"  p.  69,  give 
July  2,  as  the  day  of  departure.  Mourts  Relation  by  Prince,  p. 
106  and  107,  says  "Tuesday  July  3d.'"  June  10,  1621  was  Sun- 
day, and  it  is  improbable  that  they  started  on  such  a  journey  on 
the  Lord's  day. 


APPENDIX  C. 

LPajie  .33.] 

Among  the  notes  of  the  town,  showing  the  payment  to  the 
Indians,  is  this : 

March  11,  1042.  Imprimis.  Whereas  there  was  a  rate  of  two  shil- 
lings for  an  acre  laid  upon  the  inhabitants'  home  groiuids,  for  the  paj'- 
ment  of  the  purchase  of  the  lands  of  the  township  to  the  Indians,  and 
other  persons  being  received  since  for  inhabitants,  were  not  rated  there- 
unto. 

It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the  said  latter  inhabitants,  or  others  tliiit 
shall  hereafter  be  received  for  inhabitants,  shall  pay  for  their  house  lots 


240 


QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


tliat  shall  be  o-ranted  unto  them  by  the  town,  the  said  proportion  of  two 
shillings  for  an  acre,  and  the  said  money  to  be  kept  for  a  jjiiblic  stock 
for  sneh  used  as  shall  be  reqnisite  for  the  use  of  the  plantation. 


APPENDIX  D. 

(Pasie33.) 

There  seems  to  he  much  uncertainty  about  the  names  of  the 
first  purchasers. 

'l"he  list  given  in  Baylies'  "Old  Colony  Memoirs,"  Vol.  I. 
page  286,  with  the  shares  of  each,  is  as  follows  : 


Henry  Uxley,  8. 

'/  Richard  Williams.  12. 

Joseph  Wilson,  8. 

Benjamin  Wilson.  8. 

William  Coy,  8. 

George  Hall,  12. 

David  Corwirthy.  12. 

Mr.  Wm.  Poole.  12. 

George  Macy,  8. 

William  Harvy.  8. 

Richard  Paull,  «. 

Richard  ISmith,  12. 

^Mr.  John  Gilbert,  12. 

Wm.  Phillips,  8. 

Wm.  Hailstone,  8. 

Wm.  Parker,  12. 

John  Parker,  S. 

"^jjohn  Richmond,  (i. 

Wm.  Holloway,  12. 

The  widow  Randall,  ti. 

Francis  Doty,  12. 

Wm.  Dunn,  8. 

Wm.  Scadding,  12. 


John  Bryant,  (>. 

Anthony  Slocnni.  8. 

John  Gengille,  S. 

Francis  Streete,  8. 

Hezekiah  Hoar,  8. 

Walter  Dean,  12. 

John  Dean,  12. 

John  Strong,  12. 

Henry  Andrews,  12. 

Thomas  Cooke,  6. 

John  Smith,  12. 
Mr.  Thomas  Farwell,      12. 

Edward  Case,  8. 

John  Kingsley,  12. 

Hugh  Rosseter,  8. 

John  Gilbert,  12. 

Thomas  Gilbert.  12. 

Robert  Hobell,  (5. 

Richard  Burt,  8. 

John  Grossman.  0. 

John  Luther,  (J. 

John  Drake,  12. 

Mr.  John  Brown,  — 


'I'his  list  contains  only  forty-six  names,   while  the   list  found 
uii  tiu'  Proprietor's  Records  is  as  follows: 


Henry  Uxley. 
Richard  Williams. 
Joseph  Willson. 


John  Gengille. 
Francis  Streete. 
Hugh  Rosseter. 


ATPENDIX. 


241 


Hcnjaniiii  Willsot). 
VVilliani  (Joy  (or  Toy.*) 
(ieor<;e  Halle. 
Daved  Oervvitliy. 
Mr.  William  Pool(^ 
CJuori»e  Masy. 
William  Ilarvy. 
Ilezekiah  IToi(\ 
Walter  Deane. 
Jolin  Ueaue. 
.lolin  Strcmge. 
William  Dunne. 
William  Scaddiniic 
.lolin  Bryant. 
Antliony  Slocum. 

'I'lioinas  .I(ianeis. 
'I'homns  Linkon,  junior. 
Thomas  Linkon.  scnioi. 
Joseph  (iilbert. 
Giles  Gilbert, 
liobert  Crosman. 
Robert  Thornton. 
Henry  Andrews. 
Thomas  Cooke. 
.John  Smith. 
Mr.  Thomas  ffarwell. 
P^dward  Casce. 


John  Gilbert. 
Thomas  Gilbert. 
Robert  Ilobell. 
Richard  Burt. 
John  Greenmaii. 
John  Lnthur. 
John  Drake. 

Mr.  John (lUcjiible. 

Clement  Maxfield. 
Edward  Rue. 
Thomas  Harvy. 
William  Hedges. 
William  (Tlleoible. ) 

Aron  Knap. 
John  GoUap. 
John   Kingslo. 
Richard  Paull. 
Richard  Smith. 
Mr.  John  (Gilbert. 
AVilliam  Phillips. 
William  Hailestone. 
William  Parker. 
John  Parker. 
John  Richman. 
William  Holloway. 
The  widdo  Randall. 
(Illegible.) 


This  list  includes  s/x^y  names,  but  it  is  not  certain  tiiat  even 
this  is  perfect,  for  in  a  memorandum  book,  now  in  the  possession 
of  Edgar  H.  Reed,  Esq.,  of  Taunton,  believed  to  be  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Brig.  James  Williams  is  found  this  record:  "Richard 
Williams  was  one  of  the  eig/tty  purchasers  of  the  tract  of  land, 
l)eing  called  the  "  Eight  Mile  Square,  "  and  received  the  name  of 
Taunton  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation.  "' 

DIVISION    OF     LANDS. 

\Miat  ever  may  have  been  the  exact  number  of  the  "first  pur- 
cha.sers, "  so  called,  the  division  of  the  land  among  them,  and  those 


♦Note.     This  luiine  is  usually  luiiitcil  ••Coy"  bill  the  tirst  letter  is  ((uile  like  the 
other  "  Ts ''  in  the  leeorils. 


242  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

who  afterwards  became  proprietors,  gave  rise  to  much  considera- 
tion and  discussion  in  the  town.  Apparently  the  iirst  purchasers 
took  possession  of  a  lot  of  land  for  a  "home  lot'"  of  more  or  less 
extent,  which  was  to  be  charged  to  them,  as  it  were  by  way  of  an 
advancement,  in  the  final  and  complete  division  of  the  whole  terri- 
t6ry  among  them,  which  did  not  take  place  for  many  years  after 
the  first  settlement.  For  we  read  that  in  1641,  when  the  General 
Court  granted  to  the  first  seven  freemen  forty  acres  each  for  their 
very  valuable  services,  they  declared  that  this  was  "in  addition  to 
their  proportion  of  lands  in  other  places,  as  the  other  inhabitants 
have,  when  the  said  lands  shall  come  to  be  divided  hereafter.  " 
(2  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  18.) 

We  append  the  action  of  the  town  upon  this  subject  of  divi- 
sion, so  far  as  it  can  now,  in  the  loss  of  our  public  records  be  sat- 
isfactorily ascertained. 

Nov.  28,  1653.  At  an  orderly  town-meeting  warned  by  tlie  constable 
it  is  acted  and  voted  that  there  shall  be  a  general  division  of  land  to 
every  inch,  and  to  whom  rights  of  division  shall  belong. 

2(1,  It  is  agreed  that  the  rule  for  dividing  of  land  shall  be  by  lots, 
heads  and  estates,  according  to  the  last  rate  made,  which  was  a  rate  of 
eight  pounds  made  for  public  charges  for  the  country,  charged  upini 
every  inhabitant  by  the  raters  that  made  that  rate,  and  in  the  division 
three  acres  to  be  laid  to  each  head,  and  three  acres  to  every  shilling  that 
is  charged  in  that  rate,  contained  in  this  order,  and  three  acres  to  the 
house  or  home  lot,  and  those  that  are  single  men  to  be  looked  upon  as 
two  heads.  [This  said  agreement  was  changed  February  20,  1654,  to  be 
the  one-half  of  the  proportion  in  the  division.] 

It  is  voted  and  granted  that  such  as  possess  the  lands  of  those  that 
lemoved  from  the  plantation,  or  have  been  received  since,  shall  have 
their  divisions  that  doth  belong  to  their  lots  only,  their  persons  and 
estates  being  departed  hence,  which  said  division  to  a  six  acre  lot,  apper- 
tains two  acres  and  a  half,  and  twenty-six  pole. 

It  is  agreed  concerning  other  inhabitants  that  have  not  had  division 
shall  have  (right)  to  future  divisions  in  the  lands  yet  undivided,  provided 
they  pay  their  twelve  shillings  apiece  to  public  use,  as  former  inhabi- 
tants have  done,  according  to  town  agreement  in  that  case. 

Dec.  28,  1659.  The  names  of  those  inhabitants  within  the  Town- 
ship of  Taunton,  who  are  to  have  their  division  of  land  now  agreed 
upon,  Dec.  28,  1659,  whose  proportion  is  to  be  according  to  the  rate  here 
following,  together  with  the  quantity  of  land,  lots,  and  heads,  at  two 
acres  to  the  head,  two  acres  to  the  shilling,  and  two  acres  to  the  lot. 


APPENDLX. 

The  rate. 

(The  lots 

are  ali 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Heads. 

Acrei 

Msris  Winiiifred  (xilbo 

rt.         1 

10 

0 

o 

James  Walker. 

1 

5 

7 

8 

m 

.lolin  Tisdill. 

1 

10 

10 

9 

82 

liicliani  Hurt. 

18 

2 

4 

46 

James  P>uit, 

12 

fi 

38 

Francis  Smith, 

1 

7 

4 

6 

01 

Msris  Jane  Gilbert. 

9 

0 

7 

55 

Fransic  Street. 

(\ 

7 

5 

25 

John  B^iant, 

(i 

9 

2 

19 

Christopher  Thrasher. 

5 

2 

7 

20 

John  Hathaway, 

10 

7 

7 

37 

Jonah  Austin,  Sr. 

19 

11 

12 

40 

William  Parker. 

15 

p, 

2 

36 

James  Phillips, 

13 

4 

2 

31 

Peter  Pitts, 

1 

00 

7 

C^ 

55 

William  Haylston 

r> 

4 

2 

17 

Aaron  Knap, 

7 

9 

2 

32 

Thomas  Lincoln,  Jr. 

14 

8 

f) 

43 

Kdward  Bobbit, 

10 

8 

4 

29 

James  Wiatt, 

1 

8 

•    11 

2 

64 

Georf^e  Macey, 

IS 

o 

7 

52 

William  Witherell, 

7 

10 

5 

28 

William  Harvy, 

14 

00 

7 

44 

Thomas  Lincoln,  Sr. 

2 

00 

o 

6 

94 

Gapt.  Poole, 

1 

2 

o 
'J 

8 

62 

John  Macomber, 

7 

00 

4 

24 

Edward  Rew, 

7 

00 

2 

20 

Joseph  Wilbore, 

14 

7 

3 

37 

Samuel  Howard, 

4 

4 

0 

9 

Thomas  Caswell, 

11 

o 

9 

42 

Widow  Woody, 

5 

7 

2 

17 

Shadrach  Wilbore, 

12 

G 

3 

3.'! 

Robert  Grossman. 

9 

8 

7 

33 

John  Cobb, 

12 

00 

2 

30 

Henry  Andrews. 

18 

n 

o 

44 

Jolin  Deaue, 

] 

8 

10 

8 

7<» 

Walter  Deane, 

13 

1 

8 

44 

Hezekiah  Hoar, 

12 

1 

5 

36 

Anthony  Slocvim, 

19 

4 

0 

53 

George  Hall, 

1 

15 

o 

7 

86 

Richard   Williams, 

1 

13 

0 

10 

91 

Thomas  Jones, 

4 

3 

3 

16 

243 


The  rn 

te. 

(The  h 

;)ts 

are 

■  alike.) 

£^ 

s. 

(1. 

10 

Head 

0 

Is. 

A. 

cres. 
It) 

5 

ou 

10 

82 

18 

1)11 

10 

58 

2 

00 

0 

6 

244  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


Robert  Thornton. 

William  iShepard, 

James  Leonard, 

Nathaniel  Woodward, 

Timothy  Holloway. 
Jan.  5,  1659.     It  was  ajureed  by  a   free  vote  of  the   town  that  all 
oi'phans  or  fatherless  children  shall  have  their  rights  in  all  divisions  of 
lands  which  are  due  unto  them  according  to  proportion. 

Dec.  9,  1002.  Voted  that  all  lands  that  are  yet  undivided  belonging 
to  the  town  shall  for  future  time  be  divided  by  way  of  purchase.  For- 
mer act  of  dividing  lands  by  heads  and  estates  canceled. 

In  1662,  some  complaint  was  made  to  the  General  Court 
about  the  method  pursued  of  dividing  the  hinds  in  'I'aunton,  which 
produced  the  following  order : 

Att  this  Court,  this  following  order  was  directed  to  the  towne  of 
Taunton: — Vpon  the  comi)laint  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Taiuiton 
that  some  there  liaue  gone  about  to  alter  the  ancient  way  of  distribution 
of  lands  in  that  towne  fwrmerly  settled  and  long  practised,  wherby, 
besides  many  other  inconveniencyes  that  doth  arise  tlierby,  some  Indians 
that  by  the  leause  of  the  towne  had  libertie  to  plant  corne  in  the  remote 
ptes  of  the  townshipe  are  disturbed  in  the  improuemeut  of  the  said 
lands,  to  theire  great  impouerishing  by  such  psons  theire  taking  vp  such 
great  quantities  of  land,  which  is  ill  resented  by  vs;  wee  doe  therefore 
require  them  to  desist  from  any  such  practice  as  that  which  we  fear  may 
create  much  trouble  and  iuconveniencye,  vntill  wee  haue  fiuthcr  in(juired 
into  the  same.     (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  IV.  Page  84.) 

Jan.  10,  1669.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town,  and  these 
ten  men  following  are  chosen  to  draw  a  list  of  the  pmchasers  or  free 
inhabitants  here  in  town  as  foUoweth:  James  Walker,  William  Harvey. 
Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  Lieut.  Macy,  P^nsign  Leonard.  Aron 
Knap,  John  Hall,  Joseph  Wilbore,  John  Richmond. 

2d,  That  an  exact  list  be  taken  of  the  names  of  all  siudi  inhabitants 
amongst  us  that  have  rights  in  divisions  of  lands,  and  also  that  a  list  be 
taken  of  all  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants,  to  the  intent  that  we  may  know 
who  are  by  Court  order  allowed  to  vote  in  to  ^  n-meeting,  and  who  not. 

;}d,  And  in  the  beginning  of  each  town-meeting  the  list  of  all  the 
free  inhabitants  or  purchasers  shall  be  called  over,  and  if  sixteen  of 
them  with  the  clerk  do  appear  at  the  time  and  place  aijpointed,  it  shall 
be  lawful  for  them  to  proceed  .to  the  enacting  of  such  things  as  for  whicli 
the  town-meeting  was  appointed,  but  not  to  distribute  our  lauds  although 
it  be  due,  except  sixteen  of  the  purchasers  appear. 


APPENDIX.  245 

•liiii.  S,  1()~4.  It  is  vok'd  iiiul  iiffrcerl  by  the  town  tliat  tlie  ooinmittec 
cliosi'ii  roruierly,  the  lOtli,  Janiuiry,  IGtJO,  tliem  or  the  major  part  of 
tliem  have  full  power  to  rlraw  up  a  list  of  the  purchasers  or  proprietors 
of  this  town,  and  how  lands  shall  be  settled  and  confirmed  to  the  pur- 
chasers or  proprietors  so  that  the  town  may  be  freed  from  future 
(lania<?e,  and  also  no  man  barred  of  his  just  right,  and  whatsoever  this 
committee,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  shall  aj>ree  upon  or  do  in  or  about 
the  premises  shall  stand   firm  and  good. 

In  Jan.  21,  KiTS,  another  Committee  of  seven,  including  five  of  the 
last  named  Committee  were  appointed  with  similar  power  and  duties, 
and  also  to  ratify  their  supposed  lost  grants  and  town  orders.  This 
Committee  consisted  of  William  Harvey.  Walter  Deane,  Samuel  .Smith, 
John  Richmond,  James  Walker,  Thomas  Leonard  &  William  Witherell. 
By  the  vote  creating  them  they  were  to  report  in  "a  year's  time  after 
the  date  hereof."  But  their  report  not  being  ready  in  that  time,  the 
town  voted,  on  Dec.  1,  1679,  to  give  thein  until  the  last  day  of  May,  1680, 
which  was  then  made  as  follows: 

"  Tn  iiur  hcliireiJ  hiet/ircii   mid  iieli/lihurs,   Ihe   Inlniliitmits  of  the    town   of 
Taunton,  in  the  (/oi-i^i-tiDieiit  of  Neiu  Plymouth; 

"The  committee  chosen  by  the  said  town  for  to  ratify  town  orders 
;ind  grants,  and  to  bring  them  into  a  formal  body  so  thiit  they  may  stand 
in  foice,  and  also  to  determine  how  lands  shall  be  recorded  that  they 
may  be  confiimed,  both  to  ourselves  and  to  our  posterity. 

"  The  committee  wisheth  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

"  Amongst  the  many  mercies  that  we  enjoy  here  in  this  wilderness 
this  ought  to  be  accounted  none  of  the  least  that  we  enjoy  such  rulers 
chosen  from  amongst  ourselves  (in  the  Commonwealth)  and  live  under 
such  Covernment,  by  means  wherof,  we  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  towns 
in  this  Government,  enjoy  liberty  and  power  to  make  such  town  orders 
from  time  to  time  as  we  shall  find  needful  for  the  ordering  and  man- 
aging our  prudential  affairs  and  the  maintaining  the  worship  of  God 
jinumgst  us.  Provided  that  no  town  order  do  infringe  or  be  repugnant  to 
any  onler  of  our  Government,  and  considering  that  God  is  a  God  of 
order  and  not  of  confusion,  and  that  he  hath  in  some  measure  put  us 
into  a  capacity  to  observe  and  be  guided  by  good  and  wholesome  orders, 
it  hath  been  looked  upon  as  great  pity  and  neglect  that  our  town  orders 
have  not  before  now  been  brought  into  a  formal  body,  distinct  from  the 
ri(  Olds  of  om  lands,  which  our  town  having  well  considered  and  chosen 
us  to  do  such  a  needful  work.  Although  we  are  sensible  of  our  own 
weakness  an<l  of  the  many  difficulties  in  the  work,  yet  considering  the 
great  necessity  that  something  of  this  nature  ought  to  be  done  and  that 
the  records  of  our  lands  may  not  lie  in  a   confused  manner,  we   have 


246  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

thiough  much  difficulty  revised,  collected,  and  formed  this  following 
body  of  town  orders,  reduced  into  chapters,  as  may  be  seen  in  this  book, 
let  the  reader  take  notice,  that  first  after  this  epistle  he  hath  our  orders 
from  the  town  inserted,  and  next  after  that  some  instructions  for  those 
that  have  lands  to  be  recorded,  and  then  the  preface  that  is  before  the 
list  of  purchasers  or  proprietors,  and  then  the  said  list  and  nextly  there 
foUoweth  the  several  chapters  of  town  orders.  It  hath  been  our  en- 
deavor to  compose  and  form  the  several  orders  in  this  book  as  they  may 
most  conduce  to  general  utility  and  profit,  yet  several  of  tiiese  orders, 
intended  for  the  present  convenience,  may  probably  be  hereafter  altered, 
and  as  need  re(iuireth  other  orders  added,  suitable  to  such  alternate 
changes  as  is  usual  in  affairs.  Respecting  town  and  commonwealth  af- 
fairs, probably  it  may  be  that  weakness  may  appear  in  what  we  here 
present  to  your  view,  for  want  of  such  able  instruments  as  others  are 
furnished  withall;  however,  our  desires  are  that  you  will  be  pleased  to 
accept  of  what  we,  according  to  the  utmost  of  our  powers,  have  done. 
Endeavouring  to  promote  the  general  good  of  this  place,  and  that  you 
would  seriously  consider  that  if  such  a  work  as  this  is  of  so  great  im- 
portance to  us  at  such  a  time  as  this  is  should  be  retarded  and  hindered, 
what  would  be  the  event  thereof.  Therefore,  hoping  there  will  be  com- 
fortable concurrence  and  closure  with  us  in  this  work  considering  we 
aim  at  the  peace  and  trantiuillity  both  of  the  present  and  rising  geneia- 
tions,  we  rest  your  friends  and  neighbors, 

"  Waltek  Dkane. 

"  James  Walkek. 

"Thomas  Leonakd. 

"John  Richmond. 

"  William  Witheuell.  " 

"  At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  at  Bristol  for 
the  County  of  IJristol  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  October  in  the  year  1702, 
Tliomas  Leonard  and  John  Richmond,  two  of  the  committee  whose 
names  are  set  to  tlie  above  written  epistle,  made  oath  in  said  court  that 
the  above  written  epistle  and  what  said  epistle  doth  refer  the  reader 
unto,  and  all  contained  in  the  first  thirteen  chapters  in  this  book  (whicii 
chapters  do  end  in  the  twenty  sixth  page)  was  all  entered  in  tliis  book 
by  order  of  said  committee  before  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  May  in  the 
year  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty  (except  something  in  the  second  chap- 
ter and  something  in  the  sixth  chapter  both  which  may  plainly  ai)pear 
by  their  dates  to  have  been  entered  since  said  twenty-fifth  of  May)  and 
on  said  twenty-fifth  of  May  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty  this  above 
written  epistle  and  that  was  entered  before  as  above  said,  was  read  to 
the  town  in  a  public   town-meeting   in   Taunton,  and  the  town  then  de- 


APPENDIX.  247 

claicd  by  vote  their  acceptance  of  what  said  committee  had  done  as 
above  which  is  ajireeable  to  tlie  said  town's  vote  which  is  entered  in  the 
third  pajfe  in  this  book. 

"Sworn  in  Court  October  14,  1702. 

"Attest  John  Caky,  Clrrk." 

At  the  same  town  meeting,  May  25,  1680,  the  original  com- 
mitted of  ten,  appointed  Jan.  10,  1669,  or  a  major  part  of  them 
make  their  report  as  follows  : 

Whei-eas,  by  tlie  providence  of  God  in  the  year  1638  and  the  year 
KWJ,  it  pleased  God  to  bring  the  most  part  of  the  first  purchasers  of 
Taunton  over  the  great  ocean  into  this  wilderness  from  our  dear  & 
native  land,  and  after  some  small  time  here  we  found  tliis  place,  called 
by  the  natives  the  laud  Cohannet,  in  the  Colony  of  New  Plymouth,  and 
of  the  Court  of  said  Colony  we  obtained  grants  of  tracts  of  land  for 
a  plantation  or  township  as  by  the  records  of  said  Court  it  may  and  doth 
appear,  and  then  we  also  made  purchase  and  bought  the  said  tracts  of 
land  for  our  money  of  the  right  proprietors  and  owners,  the  Indians' 
or  Prince  of  that  part  of  the  country,  as  by  deed  under  their  hands  it 
may  appear,  and  in  honoi'  and  love  to  our  dear  and  native  country,  we 
called  this  place  Taunton,  and  owning  it  a  great  mercy  of  God  to  bring 
us  to  this  place,  and  settling  of  us,  on  lands  of  our  own,  bought  with 
oui-  money  in  peace,  in  the  midst  of  the  heathen,  for  a  possession  for  our- 
selves, and  for  our  posterity  after  us,  do  mutually  agree  and  fully  deter- 
mine as  an  undeniable  order  of  this  town,  without  any  evasion  whatso- 
ever, that  all  lands  that  is  or  shall  be  granted  to  any  person  or  persons, 
whether  under  the  denomination  of  a  purchaser  or  free  inhabitant 
orderly  received  into  this  town,  shall  be  to  the  grantees  and  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  a  good  perfect  estate  of  inheritance  in  fee  simple- 
and  that  all  titles  of  our  lands  within  this  township,  so  to  stand  in  the 
tenure  to  the  grantees,  and  so  to  descend  to  their  survivors  as  aforesaid. 

Whereas,  it  is  the  expectation  of  this  town,  that  we,  the  said  com- 
mittee, should  do  something  that  our  lands  may  be  confirmed  both  to 
ourselves  and  to  our  posterity,  the  town  having  empowered  us  so  to  do, 
wc  do  therefore  agree  and  determine  in  the  behalf  of  the  town,  that  all 
peisons  enjoying  lands,  either  upland  or  swamp  or  meadow  within  this 
township,  when  they  would  recoi'd  such  land,  they  shall  bring  a  fair 
copy  of  all  such  lands,  both  upland,  meadow  and  swamp  into  the  Select- 
men's meeting,  mentioning  in  the  copy  the  bounds  or  quantity  or  both 
of  each  parcel,  and  how  they  possess  it,  whether  by  purchase  from  par- 
ticular persons,  or  by  gift  or  grant  from  the  town,  and  if  by  grant  from 
the  town,  that  they  mention  what  i)urchase  right  and  what  division,  if  it 
may  be,  mentioning  also  what  they  have   sold  and  to  whom,  and  then  if 


248  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

the  selectmen,  or  the  major  ]niit  of"  tlieni.  do  ai»iuovc  of  tlii'  (•o])y  and 
set  their  hands  thereunto,  the  town  clerk  shall  record  all  such  lands  in 
the  town  book  of  records,  over-writing'  the  record  thereof  thus  as  fol- 
loweth: — The  records  of  the  land  both  uplands,  meadow  lands,  aud 
swamp  lands  of  such  a  person,  naminj^'  of  him,  both  of  what  was  j^ranted 
him  by  the  town  and  what  he  bought  of  particular  persons,  and  also 
what  he  hath  sold,  all  and  every  parcel  thereof,  to  be  held  to  the 
grantee  his  heirs,  successors  and  assigns  forever  according  to  the 
tenor  of  our  Charter  or  Patent. 

THE    PKEFACE    TO    THE    LIST    OF    PUKCHASERS    OK    I'HOIMilETOUS. 

Whereas  the  General  Court  at  Plymouth,  in  July  the  loth.  ItWi'.i. 
made  an  act  for  quieting  men's  estates,  avoiding  suits  at  law,  as  may 
appear  in  the  printed  law  book,  chap.  10,  page  ^5;  and  whereas  it  is  en- 
acted by  the  Court  that  all  grants  of  lands  shall  be  held  to  the  grantees, 
Iheir  heirs,  successors  &  assigns  forever  according  to  the  most  free 
tenor  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  County  of  Kent,  in  the  Realm  of  Kug- 
land,  granted  to  us  in  our  Charter  or  Patent,  and  our  inhabitants  to 
defend  according  to  the  tenor  thereof  as  appears  chap.  10,  page  44. 

And  whereas,  the  Court  formerly  gave  power  to  seven  men  of  the 
ancient  inhabitants  of  this  town  to  receive  inhabitants  and  to  dispose  of 
lands  to  them  for  the  better  carrying  on  of  the  public  aifaiis  and  main- 
taining the  worship  of  God  amongst  us,  but  several  of  those  persons  so 
received  into  this  town,  did  afterwards  leave  and  forsake  the  town, 
whereupon  it  was  the  practice  of  the  town  to  divide  lands  (viz.  such 
lands  as  such  persons  which  left  the  town  should  have  had,  if  they  liad 
not  left  their  town  nor  alienated  their  rights)  to  such  inhabitants  as  en- 
joy the  purchase  lots  (so  called)  of  those  that  left  the  town,  except  the 
purchase  lot  and  the  purchase  rights  to  divisions  were  seperated,  and 
then,  in  such  case,  the  town  did  divide  lands  to  those  that  did  hold  the 
purchase  rights  to  divisions,  but  the  town  not  having  kept  any  exact 
list  of  those  admitted  to  be  purchasers,  nor  any  exact  record  of  their 
manner  of  settling  lands  upon  i)ersons,  therefore,  for  the  preventing  of 
future  trouble  and  inconveniences  the  town  chose  a  committee.  Jan.  10, 
l(i61),  to  draw  a  list  of  the  purchasers,  or  free  inhabitants  here  in  town; 
the  town  likewise  voted  and  agieed,  Jan.  10,  1(574.  that  the  same  com- 
mittee shall  have  full  power  (or  the  major  part  of  them)  to  draw  up  a 
list  of  the  purchasers  or  the  proprietors  of  this  town,  and  how  lands 
shall  be  settled  and  confirmed  to  the  purchasers  or  jiroprictors,  so  that 
the  town  may  be  freed  from  future  damage  and  also  in>  man  barred  of 
his  just  right,  and  whatsoever  this  committee,  or  the  major  ))ai  t  of  them 
shall  agree  upon  oi-  do,  in  or  about  the  premises,  shall  stand  firm  aiul 
good;  we,  theiefore,  whose  names  are  under  written,  being  (he  major 
part  of  said   committee,    do   agree  and   conclude   that   lands   shall    be 


APPENDIX.  249 

recoidcd  unto,  coiifirim-d  and  settled  upon  such  persons,  unto  whom 
the  town  hath  already  granted  or  divided  lands  by  virtue  of  their  en- 
Joyin}^  either  purchase  lots  or  purchase  rights  to  divisions,  whcse  names 
are  on  the  list  which  we  have  drawn,  notwithstanding  it  is  not  hereby 
intended  to  deprive  any  person,  (that  removed  hence)  of  his  rights,  but 
he  shall  have  free  liberty  to  demand  and  recover  (accordi)ig  to  the  afore- 
mentioned law)  his  rights,  if  any.  of  any  such  person  or  persons  to 
whom  the  town  divided  lands,  by  virtue  of  his  possessing  the  purchase 
lot  or  purchase  rights  of  any  such  ancient  inhabitant,  who  was  formerly 
accepted  under  tlie  motion  of  a  purchaser. 

JAMES    WALKEK.  JOSEPH  WILBOKE. 

JOHN  RICHMOND,  JOHN  HALL. 

THOMAS  LEONARD.  RICHARD  WILLIAMS. 

WALTER  DEAN. 

This  2.")th  of  May  1080.  The  town  hath  voted  that  they  accept  of 
what  the  committee  hath  done;  by  the  committee  is  understood  those 
that  did  this  day  present  what  they  had  caused  to  be  entered  on  the 
t»»wn  book  of  Town  Orders,  concerning  settling  of  our  lands  and  town 
orders. 

A  list  of  the  names  of  the  present  purchasers  or  proprietors  of  the 
Town  of  Taunton  unto  whom  the  town  hath  already  granted  or  divided 
lands  by  virtue  of  their  enjoying  eithei-  purchase  lots  or  purcbase  rights 
to  divisions  of  land  as  followeth: 

Richard  Williams  on  his  own  rights,  it  on  that  which  was  Ileniy 
U^xley'Sj'jfe  on  tliat  which  was  xAnthony  Slocum's  and  that  which  was 
John  Gingil's. 

John  Hall  and  Samuel  Hall  on  their  two  rights  which  were  Joseph 
Wilson's  and  Benjamin  Wilson's. 

Joseph  Hall  on  tbe  rights  that  was  his  fatlitrs. 

Captain  William  Poole's  heirs  on  his  rigiits. 

Lieutenant  George  Macey  on  his  own  rights  ;ind  on  tiiat  wiiich  was 
Mr.  Bishop's. 

William  Harvey  on  his  own  rights. 

Edward  Rew  on  the  rights  that  was  William  Coy's. 

Hezekiah  Hoar  on  his  own  rights. 

Walter  Dean  on  his  own  rights. 

John  Dean  on  his  father's  rights. 

Henry  Andrews  on  his  father's  rights. 

Increase  Robinson  on  the  rights  that  was  Thomas  Cooks. 

John  Cobb  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Smith's. 

Thomas  Farwell's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

Slia<lrach  Wilbore  on  the  rights  that  was  Edward  Case's. 


250  ,  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Thomas  Caswell  on  the  riohtw  that  was  John  Kin^slow's. 

Janus  Leonard,  Junior,  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Paul's. 

Joseph  VVilbore  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Smith's. 

John  Smith,  Senior,  on  half  the  rights  that  was  Mr.    John  (jilbert's. 

James  Phillips  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

John  Richmond  on  the  rights  that  was  his   father's  &  on  the  rights 
that  was  Mr.  Francis  Doubtyes  (Doughty.) 

Jonah  Austin,  Senior,  on  the  right  that  was  William  Holloway's. 

Jonah  Austin,  Jimior,    on   the   luilf  purchase   rii/hts   of   the  widow 
Randil's. 

William  Witherell  on  his  own  rights,  &  that  which  was  Mr.  Dunn's. 

John  Bryant  on  the  rights  which  was  his  father's  A-  that  which  wa!< 
William  Scadding's. 

Mary  Streete  on  the  rights  that  was  her  father's. 

Joseph  Willis  on  the  rights  that  was  Hugh  Rossiter's. 

Eleazer  Gilbert  on  the  rights  of   John  Gilbert. 

Thomas  Gilbert  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

Malachi  Holloway  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Hart's. 

Francis  Smith  on  the  rights  that  was  Oliver  Purchase's. 

.Samuel  Smith  on  the  rights  that  was  Jacob  Wilson's 

James  Burt  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

Richard  Burt  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

James  'i'isdil  on  the  rights  that  was  David  Greenman's. 

John  Tisdil,  senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

John  Tisdil,  Junior,  on  the  rights  that  was  Mr.  Drake's. 

James  Walker,  senior,  on  his  own    rights,  &  on  that  whicli  was  Mr. 
John  Brown's.  &  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Luther's. 

Mr.  John  Poole  on  the  rights  that  was  Miss  Elizabeth  I'oolc's. 

James  Wiat's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

Thomas  Harvey,  Junior,  on  his  father's  rights. 

To  John  Strong's  rights  we  find  several  claimers. 

Christopher  Thrasher  on  his  own  rights. 

William  Shepard's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

John  Hathaway  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

Peter  Pitts  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Stasie's  and  on  the  rights 
that  was  William  Parker's. 

Thomas  Cogan's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

John  Macomber,  Senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

Israel  Dean  on  the  rights  that  was  Clement  MaxficM's. 

Richard  Stasie  on  the  rights  that  was  Edward  Rew's. 

John  Hodges  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 
William  Evans  his  heirs  on  his  rights. 

Aaron  Knap's  heirs  on  liis  rights. 

Henry  Hodges  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Gollup's. 


APPENDIX.  251 

Richard  Gotlfree,  senior,  on  half  the  purch;is(!  rij^iits  lliaL  was 
Tlunnas  Joan's. 

Thomas  Ijincohi,  senior,  on  his  own  ri<;lits. 

Thomas  Lincohi,  Junior,  on  his  own  ri};hts. 

George  Watson  on  the  rights  that  was  (iiles  (iiibert's. 

Giles  Gilbert  on  the  rights  that  was  Josepli  Gilbert's. 

Robert  Grossman  on  his  own  rights. 

Robert  Thornton  on  his  own  rights. 

John  Turner  on  Ills  owrj  rights. 

James  Leonard,  senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

Mr.  John  Paine  on  the  rights  that  was  Ralph  Russell's. 

Thomas  Leonard  on  the  rights  that  was  Henry  Leonards  it  on  half 
the  purchase  rights  that  was  Thomas  Jones". 

Edward  Bobbitt  on  his  own  rights. 

Samuel  Holloway  on  his  own  rights. 

Jonathan  Briggs  on  the  rights  that  was  Benjamin  Duidiam's. 

Nicholas  White,  senior,  on  the  rights  that  was  David  Gurwithies 
and  on  the  rights  that  was  Giles  Slocum's. 

John  Parker's  heirs  on  his  own  rights. 

Mr.  George  Shove  on  his  own  rights. 

William  Haylston  on  his  own  rights. 

Mr.  William  Brenton  on  the  rights  that  was  Mr.  Nicholas  Street's. 

These  purchasers  or  proprietors,  fore-mentioned,  are  hereby  and  by 
virtue  hereof  entitled  and  interested  only  unto  the  first  purchase  of  the 
township  of  Taunton  and  not  unto  any  later  purchase. 

This  list  was  made  and  agreed  upon  and  concluded  and  conlirmcd 
by  us  whose  names  are  underwritten,  l)eing  the  major  part  of  the  com- 
mittee chosen  by  the  town  for  that  end.     Dated  May  14,  1H78. 

RICHARD  WILLIAMS,  JOHN  RICHMOND, 

JAMES  WALKER,  JOHN  HALL, 

WALTER  DEAN,  JOSEPH  WILBORE. 

THOMAS  LEONARD. 


APPENDIX  E. 

(Page  34.) 

.\riss  Poole's  land. 
So  far  as  we  now  know  Miss  Poole's  title   to  land  in  Taunton 
arose  in  this  wav: 


252        QUA'RTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

On  the  od  of  Maiili  Ki'Mt,  the  Geiu-inl  Court  at  riynioutli  passed  ;in 
Older  "tliat  they  will  see  Mr.  Ilooke.  Mr.  Streete,  and  Mrs.  Poole  shall 
have  eonipctent  meddow  it  uplands,  for  farnies  layd  forth  for  them 
about  May  next,  by  Captaine  Standish  and  such  others  with  him  as  shall 
be  especially  assigned  thereunto."     (1   Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  143.) 

In  pursuance  of  that  order  Miles  Standish  .and  John  Brown,  probably 
in  May  following,  i.  e.  1640,  "layd  forth"  her  lands  and  made  report 
thereof  to  the  Proprietors  as  follows:     (Prop.  Rec.  Vol.  I.  p.  16.) 

"Those  lands  which,  by  order  of  the  Court,  were,  by  Miles  Standish 
and  John  Brown,  assistants  in  the  fTovernment  of  Plymouth,  appointed 
to  be  laid  out  unto  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pool,  of  Taunton,  as  followeth: 

Imprimis.  At  her  farm  at  Littleworth,  forty  acres  of  mea(U)w, 
being  at  the  end  next  unto  her  house  there,  lying  at  that  end  between 
the  South  and  South  west  and  so  northerly. 

Item.  Fifty  acres  of  such  upland  which  she  will  make  choice  of 
(hereabouts. 

Item.  Fifty  acres  of  upland  lying  near  the  two  mile  brook,  joining 
to  the  marsh  on  tlie  south  side  thereof,  as  also  half  of  the  same  marsh 
for  (piantity  and  quality. 

Item.  An  hundred  acres  of  upland  lying  on  the  other  side  of  (he 
great  river  of  Taunton. 

Item.  For  her  home  lot  fifteen  acres  to  the  next  unto  Mr.  Ilooke's 
house,  as  also  to  the  mill  six  acres. 

Item.  That  these  lands  be  measured  out  in  a  convenient  tinu-.  by 
the  freemen  or  sonu-  of  them  and  by  a  man  well  ('x]>crienced  in  measur- 
ing of  grounds. 

Miles  Standish. 
.John  Brown.  " 

Hon.  Henry  Williams,  in  a  valuable  article  read  before  I  lie 
Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  (Coll.  No.  2,  p.  76,)  tints  comments 
on  this  report: — 

"  Fioni  the  report  it  ajjpears  that  Miss  I'ool  had  a  farm  with  a  house 
on  it,  at  Littleworth,  without  detinite  bounds  or  a  determinate  quantity 
of  land.  The  commissioners  first  set  off  forty  acres  of  meadow,  and  fifty 
acres  of  upland  "which  she  will  make  choice  of  thereabouts."  This 
farm  seems  to  have  been  the  only  bind  of  wiiich  she  had  jtosscssion 
among  the  several  tracts  then  set  off  to  her. 

The  locality  called  Littleworth  was  a  tract  of  land  embracing  a  num- 
ber of  large  farms  situated  in  the  easterly  j)art  of  Taunton,  adjoining 
the  present  town  of  Lakeville,  extending  to  the  Middleborough  line  ad- 
joining Taunton.  The  Inuise  on  Miss  Pool's  farm  was  about  a  mile  from 
Myrick's  station  on  the  road  formerly  called  "  the  Rhode  Island  Patli, '" 


.  AI'I'ENDIX.  253 

leiidinj^  fiom  IMynioutli  to  hliode  Island.  There  is  a  ti-aditioii  that  slie 
I'oinicily  lived  there,  but  it  may  hiive  arisen  from  the  fact  that  she 
owned  a  house  there. 

The  second  tract  of  land  set  ott'  to  hei'  is  descrihed  as  "near  the  two 
mile  brook.  '"  This  shows  it  was  situated  near  the  Anchor  Forj^e,  now 
within  the  limits  of  Kaynham. 

The  third  tract  was  an  hundred  acres  described  as  "on  the  other 
side  of  the  jjreat  river  of  Taunton.*"  This  is  very  indefinite,  and  not 
readily  located  without  reference  to  subsequent  deeds.  It  was  near 
Neck  of  Land,  so-called.  ' 

"  For  her  home  lot, "'  they  set  off  twenty  one  acres  on  the  southerly 
side  of  what  is  n()w  Main  and  a  portion  of  Summer  streets,  extending'- 
from  Mr.  Hooke's  house,  near  that  now  occui)ied  by  James  H.  Anthony, 
Esq.,  to  the  mill  situated  on  the  westerly  side  of  Mill  IJiver,  adjoining 
what  is  now  (-ohannet  street.  On  this  '•home  lot''  there  were  then  no 
buildings.  A  house  was  subsequently  built  thereon  in  which  ISIiss  I'ool 
liv(!d  with  her  brother  till  1()58.— "' 

Mr.  Williams  also  appends  to  his  article  a  copy  of  the  will  of 
Miss  Poole,  giving  her  real  estate  chieHy  to  her  nepliew  John  Pole, 
which  we  annex  hereto. 

The  Last  Wii.i.  and  Testament  of  Mks.  Elizabeth  Pooi.e,  ex- 
hibited before  the  Court  held  at  Plymouth  the  sixt  of  June  1056,  on  the 
oaths  of  Lieutenant  James  Wiaie  and  Richard  Williams,  and  by  the  said 
Couit  ordered  to  bee  recorded,  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  Jkl  month, 
'1(')54, — one  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty  four. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  Elizabeth  Pole  of  Taunton,  in  Col- 
onie  of  New*  Plymouth,  in  New  England  of  the  age  of  sixty  and  five,  or 
thereabouts,  being  sick  and  weake  under  the  visitation  of  the  Lord,  yett 
being  of  perfect  memory  and  understanding,  and  willing  to  set  my  house 
in  order  according  to  the  direction  and  message  of  the  Lord  unto  Heze- 
kiah,  when  he  was  sick,  that  I  might  leave  mine  affairs  soe  as  might  be 
peaceable  and  comfortable  to  my  friends  remaining  behind  mee.  I 
therefore  commit  my  body  to  the  grave,  according  to  the  appointment  of 
(Jod,  whoe  took  mee  from  the  dust,  and  saith  wee  shall  return  unto  the 
dust,  there  to  remain  until  the  resurrection,  and  my  soul  into  the  hands 
of  God,  my  Heavenly  Father,  through  Jesus  ('hrist.  who  is  to  me  all  in 
all.  and  hath,  as  I  believe,  and  am  persuaded  through  the  mercy  of  God, 
reconciled  me  unto  God,  and  taken  away  the  guiltiness  of  sin  and  fear  of 
death,  which  would  otherwise  have  been  heavy  to  bear,  and  makes  me 
willing  to  leave  the  world,  and  desire  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  bee  with 
Christ  which  is  best  of  all:  and  as  for  tliat  portion  of  worldly  goods, 
which  the  Lord  of  his  mercy  hath  yett  continued  unto  mee.  I  give  and 
bequeath  as  foUoweth : — 


254  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Imprimis: — I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  brother,  Capt.  William 
Pole,  now  living  and  dwelling  in  Taunton,  my  dwelling  house  which  I 
built  and  have  dwelt  in  until  a  little  time  past,  wherein  my  brother  now 
dwelleth,  with  my  orchard  and  home  ground  thereunto  appertaining,  as 
also  my  forty  acres  of  meadowing  at  Little  Worth,  as  alsoe  my  neck  of 
land  so  called,  lying  on  the  further  side  of  the  Great  River,  containing 
an  hundred  acres, — these  I  bequeath  unto  my  brother  aforesaid,  and  also 
the  house  wherein  I  now  dwell,  bought  of  Robert  Thornton,  and  the 
land  thereunto  appertaining  which  I  bought  of  him  therewith  as  alsoe 
my  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  by  the  two-mile  meadow  so-called,  and  my 
part  of  meadowing  in  that  two  mile  meadow,  which  contains  the  one- 
half  of  it  adjoining  unto  my  said  fifty  acres,  with  all  my  rights  of  land 
in  divisions  due  to  me  in  Taunton.  I  give  and  bequeath  these  all  for- 
mentioned  unto  my  brother  during  his  lifetime,  to  enjoy  as  his  own 
freely,  tcf  improve  and  enjoy  for  his  advantage,  and  after  his  decease,  I 
give  and  bequeath  unto  my  cousin  John  Pole,  my  brother's  eldest  son, 
my  house  aforesaid,  which  I  built  upon  my  own  lot,  wherein  my  brother 
now  dwelleth,  with  the  orchard  and  all  the  home  grounds  thereunto  ap- 
pertaining, with  my  meadows  at  Little  Worth,  and  my  neck  of  land  of 
one  hundred  acres,  on  the  further  side  of  the  Great  River,  with  all  the 
lands  and  rights  of  divisions  that  thereunto  appertain  in  Taunton,  to 
appertain  and  belong  to  my  cousin,  John  Pole,  and  his  heirs  after  him 
forever,  from  the  day  of  the  decease  of  his  father;  and  in  case  God  shall 
see  good  to  bring  my  cousin,  John  Pole,  to  a  married  estate  before  the 
decease  of  his  father,  my  brother,  then  my  will  is  that  from  the  time  of 
his  contracting  a  marriage,  he  do  possess  and  enjoy  as  his  own  freely, 
the  house  wherein  I  now  dwell,  that  I  bought  of  Robert  Thornton, 
which  my  will  is,  that  it  be  presently  repaired  and  kept  in  good  order  to 
support  it  out  of  my  stock,  and  by  such  means  as  1  have  appointed  for 
that  end,  and  so  be  kept  for  my  cousin,  John  Pole,  as  aforesaid,  with 
the  lands  thereunto  appertaining  by  right  everyway,  and  my  brother  the 
home-lot  lying  adjoining  to  it,  throughout,  with  my  fifty  acres  by  the 
two-mile  meadows,  and  my  half  of  that  meadow  to  it,  to  be  his  only  and 
freely  until  his  father's  decease,  and  then  to  surrender  up  his  said  house 
and  lands  unto  his  mother,  to  be  hers  to  possess  and  enjoy  during  her 
lifetime,  and  after  her  decease  to  appertain  unto  her  two  younger  sons, 
Timothy  Pole  and  Nathaniel  Pole,  and  my  cousin  John  Pole,  to  enjoy 
and  possess  his  own  house  and  land  whereof  his  father,  my  brothej-,  had 
possession  of,  which  I  dwelt  upon  before,  and  forsook,  I  now  give  unto 
my  cousin,  John  Pole,  at  my  decease,  one  cowe,  called  Onely;  and 
whereas  I  have  left  to  my  brother,  his  father,  a  yoke  of  oxen  of  my 
stock,  my  will  is  that  liis  fjither  make  them  good  unto  him  out  of  his 
estate,  at  his  fathei's  decease;  also  I  give  unto  my  (!ousin,  John  Pole,  all 
niv  household  stuff  ;ind  goods  within  dore,   the  which  I  commit  to  the 


APPENDIX.  255 

cave  and  keeping  of  my  overseers,  to  have  in  their  custody  and  care  to 
preserve  for  liim  until  he  come  to  keep  house  for  himself,  being  married, 
and  then  if  the  Lord  continue  his  life,  to  enjoy  it  as  his  own,  but  if  the 
fiOrd  take  him  away  by  death  before  he  be  of  age  to  marry,  then  my  will 
is  that  my  cousin  Timothy  Pole,  his  next  brother,  enjoy  these  things 
forementioncd  as  my  gift  to  him.  Or  if  my  cousin  John  Pole  marry  and 
die  without  issue,  then  the  lands  to  return  to  my  cousin  Timothy  Pole, 
oidy  this  excepting:  a  parcel  of  the  land  is  promised  to  James  Bell  for  a 
lot,  if  there  be  none  procured  for  him  by  my  brother  in  another  place. 
I  give  to  my  cousen  Mary  Pole,  one  cow  at  my  decrease,  and  all  my  ap- 
parel and  wearing  clothes,  which  I  commit  to  the  keeping  of  my  over- 
seers for  to  let  her  have  what  they  think  may  be  fit  for  her  to  wear  as 
she  hath  need  of  it,  and  what  they  think  is  not  fit  for  her  to  have,  to 
make  sale  thereof  and  put  it  into  some  stock  that  may  be  to  her  benefit. 
Furthermore,  I  give  unto  the  Church  of  God  at  Taunton,  for  the  further- 
ance of  any  special  service  thereof,  one  cow  whichsoever  the  overseers 
shall  like  best  to  take  for  that  end,  after  my  decease,  and  improve  it  for 
that  end. 

I  give  my  part  in  the  iron  works  to  be  from  my  decease  for  the  fur- 
therance of  my  cousin  John  Pole,  in  leaving  which  I  earnestly  desire 
him  to  attend  unto  and  show  all  due  respect  unto  his  parents,  both  with 
respect  to  the  word  of  God  and  my  last  charge.  And  after  the  Lord 
hath  brought  him  to  age,  then  my  said  part  in  the  iron  works  to  be  for 
the  training  up  my  cousin  Nathaniel  Pole  in  learning  as  fast  as  it  may 
heljj  that  way,  and  afterwards  when  he  is  grown  of  age,  I  give  and  be- 
queath it  to  him  as  his  own  forever. 

I  give  unto  my  kind  and  old  friend  sister  Margery  Paule  widow,  one 
yearling  heifer,  if  it  be  living  at  my  decease,  and  appoint  my  overseers 
to  see  it  delivered  unto  her  after  my  decease. 

I  appoint  and  make  my  cousin  John  Pole  to  be  my  sole  Executor,  to 
receive  all  and  to  pay  debts  and  any  engagements,  and  .so  commend  him 
to  the  blessing  of  the  Lord. 

I  appoint  my  kind  friends  Kicliard  Williams  and  Walter  Dean  Dea- 
cons of  the  Gliurch  of  Taunton,  and  Oliver  Purchis  to  be  my  overseers, 
to  whom  I  commit  my  trust  and  care  to  see  this  my  last  will  be  fulfilled 
according  and  as  it  is  expressed  in  all  the  paits  thereof,  and  herein  I 
rest. 

This  signed  by  me, 

ELIZABETH  POLE. 
Witnessed  by 

James  Wiatt, 
Oliver  Purchis. 
Richard  Williams. 
(Ply.  Col.  liec,  of  Wills.  Book  2.  Part  T,  Page  24-5-ti,) 


256  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Her  real  estate  thus  given  to  lier  nephew  John  Poole  after 
the  death  of  his  father  William,  came  into  his  possession,  and  in 
1680  he  was  ordered  to  clear  up  and  make  apparent  the  true 
boundaries  of  his  forty  acre  meadow  lot,  by  an  order,  a  copy  of 
which  is  as  follows : 

At  a  General  Court  held  at  Plymouth,  ( )ct.  27,  1680,  it  was 
'ordered  as  follows  : — 

"111  reference  vnto  forty  acrees  ot  ineddow  tormerly  grauuted  viito 
Mistris  Elizabeth  Poole,  of  Taunton,  deceased,  now  appertainino'  vnto 
lier  successor,  Mr.  John  Poole,  niaicliant  in  Boston,  forasmuch  as  the 
bounds  of  the  said  meddow.,  by  reason  of  rubbish  groune  vp,  can  not  be 
descerned,  whicli  occafcioiietli  some  disputes  between  the  tenants  of  tlie 
said  John  Poole  whoe  impioue  the  same  and  the  iiaighbours  next  ad- 
joyning,  whoe  haue  injoyed  theiie  rights  bonlering  thereon  for  the  space 
of  twenty  yeers  in  peace,  this  Court  doth  order,  that  Mr.  Poole  be  speed- 
ily informed  of  the  pniises,  and  required  to  make  the  bounds  of  the  said 
meddow  to  :ij)peer,  in  order  to  a  settlement  thereof  according  to  equity 
and  justice,  and  for  the  preventsion  of  future  differences  about  it.  which 
if  neglected,  the  Couit  will  see  themselues  necessitated  to  take  some 
speedy  course  for  tlie  settlement  thereof.  "  (Ply.  Col.  Pec.  Vol.  VI. 
Page  54. ) 

MR.     hook's    and    MR.     srRKEl's    LAND. 

The  lands  "  layd  forth"  for  Mr.  Hooke  and  Mr.  Street  jointly 
under  the  above  order  were  in  the  present  town  of  Berkley,  and 
comprising  about  400  acres  of  upland  and  30  of  meadow.  When 
Mr.  Hooke  moved  to  New  Haven  about  1644,  he  sold  nearly  all 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Street,  and  in  1658  when  Mr.  Street  succeeded 
him  in  New  Haven,  he  conveyed  the  same  (by  his  attorneys, 
James  Wyatt  and  George  Macye,)  to  John  Hathway,  Edward  Bob- 
bett,  and  Timothv  Holloway,  all  of  Taunton,  for  150/?,  as  appears 
by  ihis  deed. 

PRKNCK    GOV. 

To  all  Christian  People  to  whom  the  Presents  shall  come.  James 
Wyatt  of  Taunton,  in  Plymouth  Patent,  in  New  JCngland,  and  Gleorge 
Macye  of  the  same  towne.  Attorneys  unto  Mr.  Nicholas  Streete,  now  or 
late  Teacher  of  the  Church  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  sendeth  (Jreel.  &c. 
Know  yea  Ihat  whereas  the  said  Nicholas  Street  by  his  letter  of  Attor- 
ney, healing  date  the  nineteenth  day  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  six  hundre<l  lifty-eight,  did  ordaine  and  constitute  and  in 


APPENDIX.  257 

liis  place  and  stead  set  and  appointed  the  said  James  Wyatt  and  George 
Macye  his  true  and  lawful  attorneys,  for  him  and  in  his  name  and  stead 
to  sell  and  make  sale  of  four  hundred  acres  of  upland  and  meadow,  be 
there  more  or  less  lying  together  in  Taunton  aforesaid  which  was  given 
by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  unto  Mr.  William  Hook  and  the  said  Mr. 
Nicholas  Street  jointly;  and  at  the  going  away  of  the  said  Hook  from 
Taunton  to  New  Haven,  all  the  said  Hook's  part,  except  two  parcels  of 
meadow,  the  one  lying  at  Grassy  Island,  the  other  at  a  place  called  As- 
sonet,  being  sold  or  disposed  of  to  the  said  Street,  and  by  the  same  let- 
ters of  Attoiney  dotli  give  full  power  and  authority  unto  them,  the  said 
Attorneys,  to  enter  his  said  lands,  or  into  some  part  thereof,  in  the  name 
of  the  whole;  and  to  such  person  or  persons,  as  by  virtue  of  the  said 
letters,  shall  purchase  the  same  of  his  said  Attorneys,  that  they  his  said 
Attorneys  do  in  his  name  deliver  quiet  and  peaceable  possession  and 
seizen  acccording  to  the  law,  and  also  to  remove,  evict,  and  dispossess 
as  they  shall  think  fit  all  and  every  person  or  persons  using  or  occupying 
all  or  any  part  of  the  said  lands,  and  them  so  cleared  to  convert  unto 
the  use  of  such  person  or  persons  as  shall  purchase  the  same.  Where- 
fore now  further  Know  ye,  that  we  the  said  James  Wyatt  and  George 
Macey,  in  the  name  of  the  said  Nicholas  Street  according  to  the  power 
committed  unto  us  as  aforesaid,  for  and  in  consideration  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  sterling,  whereof  fifty  pounds  in  hand  payed,  the  resi- 
due secured  to  be  paid,  have  given,  granted,  bargained,  sold  enfeoffed 
and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  enfeof 
and  confirm  unto  John  Hathway,  Edward  Bobbett  and  Timothy  Hollo- 
way,  all  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  the  said  four  hundred  acres  of  upland 
and  meadow  lying  together  in  Taunton  aforesaid,  be  there  more  or  less, 
the  one  side  whereof  is  bounded  with  two  marked  ti'ees  standing  upon 
the  head  of  a  cove  called  Smith's  Cove,  on  the  south  part,  the  other  part 
bounded  with  a  place  called  the  Iron  Springs  being  opjiosite  against 
a  certain  parcel  of  land  called  Mr.  Gilbert's  farm;  on  the  north  part  one 
end  buts  upon  a  great  River  in  part,  and  upon  the  meadows  of  Captain 
William  Poole,  Mistress  Jane  Farwell,  and  William  Hailstone,  in  part  on 
the  west  or  northwest  part,  the  other  end  running  up  into  the  woods,  so 
far  as  will  extend  to  four  hundred  acres,  as  aforesaid ;  the  one  moiety, 
or  half  part  of  which  said  four  hundred  acres  the  said  Nicholas  Street 
had  and  purchased  of  the  said  William  Hook  late  Pastor  of  the  said 
Church  of  Taunton  when  he  the  said  Hook  went  from  Taunton  to  New 
Haven  as  is  aforesaid.  To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  four  hundred  acres 
of  upland  and  meadow,  be  there  more  or  less,  as  before  butted  and 
bounded,  with  all  and  every  the  appurtenances,  pi'ivileges  and  commodi- 
ties thereunto  belonging  or  anyways  appertaining  unto  the  said  John 
Hathway,  Edward  Bobbett,  and  Timothy  Holk>w  ay,  their  heirs  and  assigns 
forever.     To  the  only  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  John  Hathwav,  Edward 


258  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Bobbett,  and  Timothy  Holloway,  their  heirs  and  assigns  fore-ver,  witliout 
any  the  let,  molestation  or  expulsimi  of  him  the  said  Nicholas  Street,  his 
heirs,  executors  or  assigns,  or  any  claiming  any  title,  claim  or  interest  to 
the  same  or  any  part  thereof,  from  or  under  him  them  or  any  of  them, 
and  for  warranting  of  the  said  premises  the  said  .James  Wyatt  and  (xeorge 
Macey  doth  for  themselves,  their  heirs  Executors  and  Administrators, 
covenant  and  (irant,  to  and  with  the  said  John  Hathway,  Edward  Bob- 
bett, and  Timothy  Holloway,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  by  these  presents, 
that  the  said  premises  now  be  and  at  all  time  and  times  hereafter  shall 
be,  remaine  and  continue  and  abide  unto  the  said  John  Hathway,  Edward 
Bobbett,  and  Timothy  Holloway,  their  heirs  and  assigns  freely  acquittetl 
exonerated  and  discharged,  or  otherwise  from  time  to  time  and  at  all 
times  hereafter,  well  and  sufhciently  saved,  defended  and  Kept  harmless 
off  and  from  all  and  all  manner  of  former  and  other  bargains  and  sales. 
gifts,  grants,  feofments,  joyntures,  dower,  title  of  dower  estates,  mort- 
gages, forfeitures,  seizures,  judgments,  extents,  executions  and  all  other 
acts  and  incumbrances  whatsoever  had,  made,  done,  acknt)wledged  and 
committed  by  the  said  Nicholas  Street  or  any  other  person  or  persons 
claiming  or  having  any  title  or  interest  of  in  or  to  the  said  demised  prem- 
ises or  any  part  thereof,  or  any  of  the  appurtenances  thereof,  by  from  or 
under  him  the  said  Nicholas  Street  or  his  assigns,  or  done  or  committed 
by  the  assent,  demand  or  procurement  of  the  said  Nicholas  Street  or  his 
assigns,  or  by  any  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  whereby  the  said 
John  Hathway,  Edward  Bobbett,  or  Timothy  Holloway  i)r  any  of  them 
or  the  heirs  or  assigns  of  them  or  any  of  them,  shall  or  may  be  lawfully 
evicted  out  of  the  possession  or  enjoyment  thereof  or  of  any  part  or  par- 
cel thereof  as  aforesaid  provided  the  said  John  Hathway,  Edward  Bob- 
bett and  Timothy  Holloway,  or  some  or  one  of  them,  or  the  heirs.  Execu- 
tors, Administrators  of  them  or  some  or  one  of  them,  shall  pay  or  cause 
to  be  paid  unto  the  said  James  Wyatt  and  George  Macey,  attorneys  as 
aforesaid  unto  the  said  Nicholas  Street,  and  to  and  for  the  use  of  him  the 
said  Nicholas  Street,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  for  the  nature  of 
pay  and  time  and  place  of  payment,  acct>rding  to  the  tenor  of  that  mort- 
gage of  the  premises  agreed  upon.  To  be  sealed  by  them,  the  said  John 
Hathway,  Edward  Bobbett,  and  Timothy  Holloway;  but  if  therein  they 
shall  fail  and  forfeit  the  premises  in  case  of  nonpayment  the  next  afore- 
said covenant  in  point  of  warranty  to  be  of  no  force  against  the  said 
Wyatt  and  Macey,  anything  in  these  presents,  to  the  contrary  thereof  in 
any  wise  notwithstanding,  and  also  the  said  James  Wyatt  and  George 
Macey  doth  further  covenant  jiromise  and  grant  to  and  with  the  said 
John  Hathway,  Edward  Bobbett,  and  Timothy  Holloway,  that  when  the 
purchase  money  due  for  the  saiil  bargained  premises  is  as  aforesaid  i)aid 
and  satisfied,  according  to  time  and  i)lace  of  jKiyment,  and  nature  of  pay. 
then  they  the  said  James  Wyatt  and  George  Macey,  or  one  of  them  shall 


Al'PENDIX.  259 

and  will  (IcliviT  i»r  cause  to  be  delivered,  all  and  singular  such  evidences 
■.uu\  writiiiiis  tliat  they  have  or  can  procure  only  touching  or  concerning 
the  premises  severally  with  the  said  mortgage  agreed  to  be  sealed  for 
security  as  aforesaid,  and  acknowledge  satisfaction  of  the  said  debt  upon 
the  record  thereof  if  the  said  mortgage  shall  be  recorded;  and  lastly  that 
when  the  said  debt  or  sum  is  fully  paid,  as  aforesaid,  the  said  James 
Wyatt  and  (ieorge  Macey,  shall  and  will  perform,  and  do  or  cause  to  be 
performed  and  done  any  such  further  act  or  acts  as  they  the  said  James 
Wyatt  and  (ieorge  Macey  shall  thereunto  advised  or  required  by  the  said 
John  Hathway.  Edward  Bobbett.  and  Timothy  Holloway,  or  their  or  any 
of  their  assigns,  for  a  more  full  and  perfect  conveying  and  assuring  the 
said  bargained  premises,  and  every  part  thereof  unto  the  said  John  Hath- 
way. Edward  I>obbett,  and  Timothy  Holloway  their  heirs  and  assigns. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  James  Wyatt  and  George  Macey  have 
hereunto  put  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  of  In 

the  year  ttf  our  Lord  one  thousand  six  hundred  fifty  and  eight. 

James  Wyatt  and  a  [seal.] 
signed,  sealed.  (ieorge  Macey  and  a  [seal. J 

and  delivered  in 
presence  of. 

William  Poole, 
Walter  Deaue, 
William  Harvey. 
This  deed  was  acknowledged  by  James  Wyatt  and  George  Macey  the 
24th  of  June  Ititi?.. 

Before  me,  John  Aldin 

Assistant. 
(Ply.  Rec.  of  Deeds.  Vol.  III.  p.  ISO. 

By  another  deed  dated  February  9,  1669,  William  Bradford, 
son  of  Gov.  Bradford,  confirmed  the  title,  and  in  consideration  of 
two  pounds,  gave  a  new  deed  of  the  same,  as  follows : 

To  all  unto  whom  these  presents  shall  come.  Gi-eeting:  Whereas, 
the  Honorable,  the  Council  Established  at  Plimouth.  in  the  County  of 
Devon,  for  the  planting,  ruling,  ordering  and  Governing  of  New  England 
in  America,  by  vertue  and  authority  of  Lett's  Patent  under  the  (ireat 
Seal  of  England  from  our  late  Soverainge  Lt)rd  King  James  the  first, 
bearing  date  at  AVestminister  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  sd  Mat'es  Keign 
of  England.  For  and  in  consideration  that  William  Bradford,  Esq"'^  and 
his  Associates  had  of  their  own  proper  cost  and  charges  planted  ami  in- 
habited a  Town  called  by  the  name  of  New  Plimouth  in  New  England  as 
aforesd.  and  for  their  better  encouragement  to  proceed  in  so  pious  a  work 
especially  tending  to  the  i>ropagation  of  Heligion  and  the  Great  encour- 


26o  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

agement  of  trade  to  his  Mat'^s  Realms,  and  Advancement  to  the  Pnblick 
Plantation.  The  said  Council  by  their  Patent  or  Grant  under  their  Com- 
on  Seal,  Signed  by  the  Right  Honourable  Robert  Earle,  of  Warwick, 
President  of  sd  Council,  bearing  date  the  thirteenth  day  of  January,  in 
the  tifth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  late  Soverainge  Lord  King  Charles,  the 
first  Anno  Dom.  I(i29,  did  give,  grant,  Enfeoffe,  Assigne  and  contirme  unto 
the  said  William  l}radf(»rd,  his  heires  Associates  and  Assigns  forever.  All 
that  part  of  New  England  in  America  aforesaid.  And  Tract  or  Tracts  of 
lands  That  lye  within  or  between  a  certaine  Rivulet  or  Runlet  comonly 
called  Coahasset,  alias  Conahasset  towards  the  north.  And  the  River 
comonly  called  Narhaganset  River  towards  the  south,  and  the  Great 
Ocean  towards  the  East,  And  between  and  within  a  straight  line  directly 
extending  up  into  the  Main  land  towards  the  AVest,  from  the  mouth  of 
the  said  River  called  Narhaganset  River  to  the  utmost  limets  or  bounds 
of  A  country  or  Place  in  New  England,  comonly  called  Pocanocket  Alias 
Sowamset,  Westward,  And  another  like  straight  line  extending  itself  di- 
rectly from  the  mouth  of  sd  River  Coahasset,  alias  Conahasset,  towards 
the  West  so  far  up  into  the  Main  land  westward  as  the  utmost  limits  of 
the  s<i  place  or  country  comonly  called  Pockanocket,  alias  Sowamset,  do 
extend.  And  all  Lands,  Rivers,  waters,  havens,  situate,  lying  and  being  or 
Arising  within  or  between  the  said  limmits  and  bounds,  or  any  of  them. 
And  thereof  were  put  into  peaceable  and  quiet  possession  as  in  and  by 
the  sd  Grant  and  endorsement  thereon,  reference  thereto  being  had  will 
more  fully  and  at  large  appear;  And  whereas  the  said  William  Bradford, 
and  his  Associates,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  thirty  eight,  did  grant  unto  Mr.  Nicholas  Street  and  M"".  Hooke 
jointly,  A  tract  of  land  for  a  farme  of  four  hundred  acres  of  upland  and 
about  thirty  acres  of  meadow  lying  together  in  the  limets  and  bounds  of 
Taunton,  And  at  the  going  away  of  said  Hooke  from  Taunton  he  sold  his 
part  of  sd  farm  to  M^  Nicholas  Street,  And  when  the  said  Street  went 
from  Taunton  he  sold  the  farme  and  foresaid  land  to  Jonathan  Hatha- 
way sen'r  Edward  Bobbett  senr  and  Timothy  HoUoway,  all  of  Taunton, 
in  the  County  of  Bristol,  And  the  said  farme  lyeth  in  the  County  of 
Bristol  within  his  Mat'es  territory  and  Dominion  in  New  England  in 
America,  being  part  of  the  lands  contained  within  the  limits  and  bound- 
aries Expressed  in  the  aforecited  Patent  or  Graunt  from  the  Council 
Established  at  Plimouth  in  the  County  of  Devon  for  Planting,  Ruling, 
ordering  and  governing  of  New  England  in  America  nnto  the  said  Wil- 
liam Bradft)rd,  his  heirs.  Associates  and  Assigns.  Now  know  yee,  that 
I,  William  Bradford  of  New  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  Plimouth,  with- 
in his  Maties  Territory  and  Dominion  of  New  England,  Esq^,  son  and  Heir 
of  the  above  named  William  Bradford,  Esqe,  deceased,  for  and  in  consid- 
eration of  the  sum  of  two  pounds  in  current  money  of  New  England  to 
me  in  hand  paid  at  and  before  tlic  ensealing  and  delivery  (»f  tliese  pres- 


APPENDIX.  261 

ents,  well  and  truly  paid  by  John  Hathaway,  Edward  Bol)l)ctt  and  Sam- 
uel Holloway  and  William  Phillips,  one  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  deceased 
James  Phillips,  which  sd  Samuel  Holloway  and  James  Phillips,  late  de- 
ceased, purchased  his  the  said  Timothy  Holloway' s  part  of  said  farme, 
which  said  persons  and  the  Proprietors  of  said  tract  of  land  or  farm 
aforesaid,  and  are  ancient  enjoyers  and  settlers  and  planters  of  the  said 
farme  for  thirty  years  and  upwards  And  the  receipt  of  sd  money  I  do 
hereby  acknowledge  And  for  divers  other  good  causes  and  considerations 
me  thereunto  especially  moving,  have  granted,  remised,  released,  ap- 
proved, ratified,  contirmed  and  forever  quitclaimed,  and  by  these  presents 
do  for  me  and  my  heirs  fully  and  absolutely  graunt,  remise,  release,  ap- 
prove, ratify,  confirm  and  forever  quitclaim  unto  the  said  John  Hatha^ 
way,  Edward  Bobbett,  Samuel  Holloway  and  William  Phillips,  their 
heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  the  onely  use  and  beliot)f  of  themselves  and 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  In  their  full  and  peaceable  possession  and 
seizen  now  being  according  to  their  and  every  of  them  respective  rights, 
title  and  interest.  All  and  singular  the  right,  title  and  interest,  inheri- 
tance, use,  propertie,  possession,  claim  and  demand  whatsoever  of  me 
the  said  William  Bradford  of  in  and  unto  all  and  singular  the  messuages 
and  tenements,  lands,  grounds,  soils  lying  situate  within  the  limits  and 
bounds  of  sd  farme,  as  they  have  been  anciently  stated  and  set  forth  and 
are  now  desci'ibed  and  bounded  lying  on  the  East  side  of  Taunton  Great 
River  bounded  on  the  south  side  in  part  by  Assonet  Xeck,  and  in  i)artby 
the  old  line  of  the  Town  of  Taunton  and  on  the  north  side  by  a  black  oak 
marked  near  a  spring  called  the  Iron  Spring  one  end  butts  in  part  uijon 
the  meadow  of  Captain  William  Peele,  Mrs  Jane  Farewell  and  William 
Hailstone  and  in  part  upon  the  Great  River  running  along  by  the  River 
side  as  far  as  Assonet  Xeck,  and  so  running  along  by  the  side  of  said 
Necke  until  it  comes  to  the  head  of  a  meadow  called  by  the  name  of 
Smiths  Cove  to  a  marked  tree  by  the  side  of  sd  Xeck,  and  from  said  ti-ee 
to  another  white  oak  marked  at  the  head  of  sd  Cove,  and  from  said  white 
oak  to  run  to  Taunton  line  northerly  so  that  Tavmton  line  and  that  line 
make  a  s<iuare  at  the  head  of  said  Cove,  and  so  to  run  by  Taunton  line  to 
Assonet  w  ay,  and  so  to  run  upon  a  straight  line  a  little  above  a  pine  tree 
new  cut  down,  and  so  extends  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  upon  that 
line  near  John  Richmond's  field,  and  then  turns  the  corner  and  so  run- 
neth down  the  Plain  along  by  a  Pine  tree  fallen  down,  and  from  thence 
West,  and  by  north  until  it  comes  to  said  marked  tree  near  the  Ii'on 
Si)ring.  Together  with  all  waters,  brooks,  ponds,  creeks,  coves,  meadows, 
swamps,  fishing  hereditaments,  royalty,  minerals,  profits,  pri^aleges  and 
comodities  whatsoever,  situate,  lying  and  being,  arising,  happening  or 
accruing,  or  which  shall  arise,  happen  or  accrue  on  or  within  the  limits 
aforesaid.  The  meadow  of  Captain  William  Poole,  and  Mrs.  Jane  Fare- 
well and  William  Hailstone  onely  excepted.     To  have  and  to  hold  all  and 


262  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEHRATION. 

siii<;iilar  tlu'  messiiaj;os  or  teneiiients,  lauds.  <;r()un(ls.  and  soils,  and  all  tlio 
afovcmentioned  to  be  (4rauted  and  released  premises  with  the  nienil>ers 
and  appurtenances  thereof  (H)ntained  within  the  bounds  and  limits  afore- 
said unto  the  said  Jolui  Hathaway,  Edward  Bobbett  and  Samuel  Hollo- 
way  and  William  Phillips,  their  heirs  and  assijifus  forever,  aecordinc  to 
their  eaeh  and  every  of  their  particular  several  A  respective  estate,  right, 
title  and  interest  whatsoever  in  and  to  the  premises  or  to  any  part  or 
parcel  therein  severally  and  not  joyutly  with  the  rif>hts,  memliers,  juivi- 
leges,  comodities  and  appurtenances  thereof,  so  that  I  the  said  William 
Bradford  nor  my  heii's  shall  or  may  from  hence  forth  have  claim  or  de- 
mand any  Estate,  ri<;"ht.  title  or  intesest  in  (^)r  to  the  sd  granted  and  re- 
leased inemises  or  any  part  or  ])arcel  thereof  but  of  and  from  all  action 
of  right,  title,  interest,  claim  and  demand  thereunto  we  and  every  of  us 
to  be  utter  excluded  and  forever  debarred  by  these  pi-esents.  To  be 
holden  of  his  Majesty  as  of  his  manour  of  East  (Treeuwich  in  the  County 
of  Kent,  within  the  llealm  of  England,  in  free  and  common  soccagc  an 
not  in  capite  nor  Knight  service,  yielding  and  paying  to  our  Sovereign 
Lord  the  King,  his  heirs  and  successors  forever,  one-fifth  part  of  the  ore 
of  the  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  and  one  fifth  part  to  the  President  and 
Council  which  shall  be  had  possessed  and  obtained  within  the  precincts 
aforesaid  for  all  service  and  demands  whatsoever  as  is  expressed  in  the 
forerecited  patent  or  (Trannt  from  the  Council  Established  at  T'limouth. 
And  I  the  said  William  Bradford,  and  my  heirs,  all  and  singular,  the  said 
jiremises  with  tlie  appiu'tcuauccs  unto  the  said  John  Hathaway.  Edwarfl 
Bobbett,  Samuel  Holloway  and  AVilliam  Phillips,  their  heirs  and  assigns 
forever,  and  to  the  onely  use  and  behoof  of  themselves,  their  heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  according  to  their  each  and  every  of  their  several  partic- 
ular proportion,  right,  title.  Estate  and  interest  therein  lespectively, 
against  me  and  my  heirs  shall  and  will  Warrant  and  forever  defend  by 
these  presents. 

In  witness  whereof,  1.  William  Bradford  havi'  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  seal,  this  ninth  day  of  February  one  tlioiisand  six  luindrcd  t-ighty 
eiglit  nine. 

signed,  sealed  and  \Villi:nii  Bradford 

delivered  in  presence  of  us  [seal.  | 

Joseph   Bradford 
Kenelm  Baker 
Elisha  Wadsworth 

December  21  HiS'.t.  Major  William  Bradford  whose  hand  and  seal  is 
hereunto  set  and  aftixed,  personally  a])peared  and  owned  and  acknowl- 
edged this  Instrument  to  be  his  voluntai-y  and  free  act  and  deed.  Betdre 
Dani(^l  Smith.  Assistant,  Entered  and  Becorded. 

April  24th  Ki'.tl.  i)er  Samuel  Sprague,  Becordcr. 

(Ply.  Col.  Uec.  of  Deeds,  Vol.  V.  p.  4.")!>.) 


APPENDIX.  263 

APPENDIX  F. 

[Page  35. 1 

These  seven  were  the  only  original  freemen,  and  became  prom- 
inent and  influential  men  in  town,  and  largely  established  its  char- 
acter and  position  in  the  colony.  Their  services  were  so  important 
that  in  1641,  the  Court  gratefully  voted  them  a  grant  of  land  in 
these  words : 

"Whereas  tliose  seauen  first  freemen,  men  of  Taunton,  that  hauc 
ynrlergoiie  great  trauell  and  charges  about  the  attending  of  tlie  Courts, 
liiying  out  of  lands,  and  other  occations  for  the  toune,  it  is  tliought  meete 
by  tlie  goument  tliat  therefore  they  haue  a  pporcon  of  land  in  convenyent 
place  lying  together  assigned  them,  so  that  it  exceede  not  the  quantyty 
i>f  fourty  acrees  apeece,  besides  thother  ppporcons  of  lands  in  other 
places  as  of  other  of  the  inhabits  of  the  said  towne  of  Taunton  hauc. 
when  the  said  lands  sliail  come  to  be  deuided  hereafter. ""  (2  Ply.  Col. 
Kec.  p.  18.) 


APPENDIX  G. 

LPage  35.] 

Presumably  Cai)tain  Pool's  company  had  considerably  increased  in 
the  next  four  years,  for  in  1643,  a  list  of  "all  the  males  able  to  beare 
Armes  from  xvl  Yeares  old  to  <jU  yeares,  within  the  seurall  Towneshipps" 
was  made,  by  order  of  the  General  Court,  and  Taunton's  list  contained 
fifty  four  names,  as  follows:     (8  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  195.) 

Mr.  John  Browne,  Edward  Bobbett, 

Wr.  Willm  Poole,  Pochard  Paule, 

John  Browne.  Anthony  Slocome, 

James  Browne,  Edward  Case, 

James  Walker,  Thomas  Farewell, 

Oliver  Purchase,  Tobias  Saunders, 

Thomas  Gilbert,  Henry  Andrewes, 

Richard  8tacye,  John  Gallop, 

Willm  Hollway,  John  Gilbert,  Junr. 

Tymothy  Hollway.  John  Stronge, 

Wilm  Parker,  Thom  Cassell, 

Peter  Pitts,  John  Deane, 

John  Parker,  Edward  Abbott, 


264 


OUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


Willm  Hailstone, 
Wm.  Hodges, 
Willm  Phillips, 
John  Maycuniber, 
Thomas  Coggin, 
James  Wyatt, 
Edward  Rew, 
Thom  Hai'vey, 
James  Chichester, 
Willm  Seward, 
Aron  Knapp, 
John  Barratt, 
Nicholas  Hart, 
Willm  Powell. 


Walter  Ueane, 
Wm.  Wetherell. 
Hezekiah  Hore, 
George  Macie, 
Georg  Hall, 
John  Perry, 
Benjamin  Wilson, 
Mr.  Street, 
Richard  Williams, 
Willm  Evans, 
Christopher  Thrasher, 
Thomas  Cooke, 
Thom  Cooke,  Jr., 
John  Gingell. 


APPENDIX  H. 

[Page  36.] 

The  law  passed  Mar.  5,   1638,  establishing  the  representative 
system  in  the  Colony  was  as  follows  : 

"  Whereas  comiilaint  was  made  that  the  ffremen  were  put  to  many 
inconveniences  and  great  expense  by  their  continuall  attendance  at  the 
Courts,  It  is  therefore  enacted  by  the  Court  for  the  ease  of  the  scverall 
colonies  and  Townes  within  the  Government,  That  every  Towne  shall 
make  choyce  of  two  of  their  ffremen.  and  the  Towne  of  Plymouth  of 
foure  to  be  Committee  or  Deputies,  to  joyne  with  the  Bench  to  enact 
and  make  all  such  lawes  and  ordinances  as  shall  be  judged  to  be  good 
and  wholesome  for  the  whole.  Provided  that  the  lawes  they  doe  enact 
shal  be  propounded  one  Court,  to  be  considered  upon  untill  the  next 
Court,  and  then  to  be  confirmed  if  they  shal  be  api^roved  of  (except  the 
case  require  present  confirmacon).  And  if  any  act  shall  be  confirmed  by 
the  Bench  and  Committees,  which,  upon  further  deliberacon,  shall  prove 
prejudicial  to  the  whole,  That  the  tfremen  at  the  nextelecon  Court  after 
meeting  together,  may  repeal  the  same  and  enact  any  other  usefuU  for 
the  whole;  and  that  every  Township  shall  beare  their  Committees 
charges;  and  that  such  as  are  not  ffreemen,  but  have  taken  the  Oath  of 
fldelitie,  and  are  masters  of  famyliesand  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Townes, 
as  they  are  to  beare  their  part  in  the  charges  of  the  Committees,  so  to 
have  a  vote  in  the  choyce  of*  them,  provided  they  choose  them  only  of 
the  ffreemen  of  the  said  Town  whereof  they  are;  but  if  any  such  Com- 


APPENDIX.  265 

mittecs  shall  be  insufficient  or  troublesome,  that  then  the  Bench  and  the 
other  Committees  may  dismiss  them,  and  the  Towne  to  choose  other 
ffreemen  in  their  place.  " 

(Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  XI.  p.  :51:  Compact,  Cliarter  and  Laws  of  New 
Ply.  p.  (hi.  This  statute  was  re-enacted  in  1658,  and  the  pay  of  the  dep- 
uties fixed  at  2s.  fid.  per  day. ) 

The  first  new  General  Court  met  on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1639.  In 
that  year  the  Committees  or  deputies  "for  eich  Towne"  as  stated  in 
Ply.  Rec.  Vol.  I.  p.  126,  were 

'  Mr.  .John  Done,! 

William  Paddy, || 

For  Plymouth.       -j  Manasseth  Kempton, 

John  Cooke,  Jr. 

John  Dunhame, 

F„,.  Duxbonow.     |  JS'S'-^rS, 

Ko,.«cituate.  S  ^SryFosS*'"' 

(  Richard  Burne. 
For  Sandwich.        ^  Thomas  Armittasc,| 

(  Mr.  John  Vincent, 

C  Capt.  Willm  Poole,  t 
For  Cohannet  }  Mr.  John  Gilbert, 

(  Henry  Andrewes, 

For  Yarmouth.       \  1]"^%  ^^^''^- 
)  Philip  Tabor, 

For  Bainestable,    \  Mr.  Joseph  Hull, 
made  in  Decemljer  Court,  )  Mr.  Thom  Dimmack. 
1639.  ' 

J  No  explanation  is  given  of  tlie  reason  why  five  names  are  given  for  Plymouth, 
anti  three  for  Sandwich  and  Cohannet.  It  may  have  been  because  too  many  were 
elected,  and  so  erased  ;  but  the  law  provided  only  f(nu-  for  Plymouth,  and  two  for 
every  other  town. 

II  The  last  two  from  Taunton  in  1691,  the  last  General  Court  at  Plymouth,  were 
John  Hall  and  John  Hathawav. 


APPENDIX  I. 

[Page  36.] 

The  vote  of  the  town  authorizing  the  building  of  the  first  saw 
mill  was  in  these  words  : 

"Jan.  5,  1659.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  that  Henry  An- 
drews and  John  Macomber  shall  have  liberty  to  erect  or  set  up  a  saw 
mill  on  the  Mill  River,  if  it  be  not  found  hurtful  to  the  grist  mill,  upon 


266  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

these  terms  following:  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  shall  have  lib- 
erty to  bring  what  timber  they  shall  think  meet,  either  pine,  chestnut, 
or  cedar,  and  what  timber  any  of  the  inhabitants  shall  bring  as  above- 
said  they  shall  deliver  the  one  half  of  it  again  to  him  that  brought  it, 
sawing  either  to  boards  or  planks  as  the  inhabitants  shall  see  cause. 

And  what  other  boards  the  inhabitants  abovesaid  shall  need  for 
their  own  particular  case,  the  said  Henry  Andrews  and  John  Macomber 
shall  sell  them  at  the  rate  of  four  shillings  to  a  hundred  ordinary  town 
pay,  and  this  abovesaid  mill  to  be  in  some  forwardness  within  one  year 
after  the  date  hereof,  or  else  this  order  to  be  of  no  effect.  " 

The  mill  was  probably  soon  erected,  for  we  find  the  town 
again  voting  under  date  of  Jan.  2,  1664,  "that  the  fish  shall  have  a 
convenient  passage  up  and  down  the  Mill  River. " 

In  April  16()4,  William  Witherell  and  Gyles  Gilbert  were  complained 
of  for  disturbing  said  saw  mill,  and  ordered  to  recognize  in  the  sum  of 
20  pounds  each,  the  cause  for  which  is  thus  stated  (4  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  56) 
"  That  whereas  James  Walker,  being  a  ptenor  in  the  Saw  Mills  at  Taun- 
ton, complained  of  great  hurt  done  to  the  said  Saw  Mill  by  som  psons 
that  came  in  the  night  in  a  feleonious  manor  and  stole  away  severall 
things  and  did  great  spoile  and  left  a  libellous  paper  behind  them;  and 
it  being  suspected  that  the  above  bounden  William  Witherell  and  Gyles 
Gilbert  were  the  psons,  or  some  of  them,  that  have  done  the  said  mis- 
chiffe,  they,  the  said  William  Witherell  and  Gyles  Gilbert,  being  suni- 
oned  appeered  at  Plymouth  before  the  Gov  and  Captaine  Southworth. 
on  the  day  and  yeare  above  first  written,  and  being  examined,  it  ap- 
peared that  they  were  guilty  in  the  aforesaid  particulars,  and  therfore 
the  said  majistrates  saw  cause  to  take  the  said  bonds  of  them  for  theire 
good  behavior  &c.  " 

At  the  next  General  Court  in  May,  1664,  Josepth  Gray  and 
Samuell  Linkon  were  complained  of  for  the  same  offence,  and  gave 
bonds  in  like  manner  for  their  good  behavior.  Thereupon  they 
retaliated  by  complaining  of  the  owners  of  the  saw  mill  for  not 
leaving  a  sufficient  passage  for  the  fish,  which  resulted  in  the  fol- 
lowing order.     (4  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  57.) 

"Whereas,  att  this  Court,  the  above  bounded  Josepth  Gray  and 
Samuell  Linkorne,  together  with  George  Watson,  complained  of  great 
wrong,  sustained  not  onely  by  them,  but  by  the  whole  towiie  of  Taun- 
ton, by  James  Walker  his  neglecting,  according  to  engagement,  to  leave 
a  sufficient  passage  for  the  herrings  or  alewiues  to  goe  vp  in  the  riuer  on 
which  the  saw  mill  standeth,  the  Court  directed  an  order  to   the   con- 


APPENDIX.  267 

stable  of  Taunton,  to  requiic  liiin  to  sij^nify  vntothe  saifl  Jame.s  Walker 
that  hee  speedily  take  cour.se  that  a  free  passajjc  bee  left  for  the  <;oeinj; 
vp  of  the  alewiues  in  the  said  riuer  whiles  yett  some  pte  of  the  season 
reniaines  of  theire  goeing  vpp. ''     (Ply.  Col.  Ree.  Vol.  IV.  p.  57.) 

Apparently  this  order  did  not  accomplish  the  purpose,  for  at 
the  June  Court,  1664,  another  order  was  passed  : 

"  In  reference  to  the  complaint  of  sundry  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
towne  of  Taunton  against  James  Walker  and  others,  for  the  restraining 
of  the  alewiues  from  goeing  vp  according  to  their  vsuall  manner  by  rea- 
son of  a  sawmill  in  theiie  herring  riuer,  by  which  obstruction  of  the 
said  fish  the  said  towne  hath  and  is  in  danger  to  suffer  much  damage, 
this  Court  hath  ordered,  that  betwixt  this  date  and  the  next  season  of 
the  fishes  goeing  vp,  they,  the  said  owners  of  the  mill  shall  make  or 
cause  to  be  made  a  free  full  and  sufficient  passage  for  the  goeing  vp  of 
the  said  fish,  or  otherwise,  vpon  the  further  complaint  of  the  towne,  the 
Court  will  take  an  effectuall  course  that  the  same  shall  be  done."  (Ply. 
Col.  Rec.  Vol.  IV.  p.  66. ) 

At  the  same  Court  (p.  ()6)  Witherell,  Gilbert,  Gray  and  Linkorne 
"  were  sentenced  by  the  Court  to  pay  each  a  fine  of  twenty  shillings  for 
an  abuse  done  to  a  saw  mill  att  Taunton  belonging  to  James  Walker  and 
others,  by  comeing  in  the  night  and  breaking  downe  some  pte  of  the  said 
mill,  and  for  takeing  away  severall  things  from  the  same.  " 

Thus  far  the  contest  might  be  called  a  "draw  game,"  but  Wil- 
liam Witherell  was  not  discouraged.  He  commenced  a  suit  against 
the  mill  owners,  and  in  1666,  recovered  a  judgment,  which  is  thus 
recorded  : 

"George  Watson,  Gyles  Gilbert,  and  William  Withcrly  complained 
against  James  Walker,  Robert  Crosman,  John  Maycomber,  and  Nicholas 
White,  in  an  action  of  trespas  on  the  case,  to  the  damage  of  an  hundred 
pounds,  for  hindering  the  fish  from  haueing  a  convenient  passage  vp 
and  downe  the  Mill  Riuer  att  Taunton,  by  the  worke  about  the  saw  mill, 
contrary  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  towne  of  Taunton,  and  contrary  to  the 
promise  of  the  said  James  Walker,  all  which  hath  bine  great  damage  to 
the  complainants  and  others. 

The  jury  find  for  the  plaintiftes,  that  a  sufficient  passage  be  made 
by  the  defendants  att  the  Mill  Riuer  att  Taunton  for  the  fish  where  they 
vsually  goe  vp  and  downe,  where  the  saw  mill  or  dam  now  erected  is  an 
annoyance  to  the  said  fish,  the  expence  of  time  and  the  cost  of  the 
suite. "'     (Ply.  Col.  Kec.  Vol.  VII.  Page  131.) 


268  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

APPENDIX     J. 

[Page  38.1 

The  following  letter  from  Robert  Treat  Paine  in  1774,  shows 
that  Taunton  had  the  same  difficulty  in  those  days  as  now,  in  se- 
curing her  supposed  just  proportion  of  the  herring  fishery. 

Province  of 

Massachusetts  Bay 

To  his  Excellency  Thomas  Hutchinson  Esq. 
To  the  Honorable  his  Majestys  Council  And  the 
honorable  the  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  assembled  the  twenty  sixth  day  of  Januaiy 
1774. 

humbly  shew  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Taunton  in  the  County  of 
Bristol  by  Daniel  Leonard  &  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Esqrs.  their  Agents 
for  this  purpose  duly  appointed,  that  the  Great  &  Generall  Court  of  this 
Province  have  in  their  great  Wisdom  &  Care  from  time  to  time  enacted 
divers  Laws  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  Alewives  &  other  Fish,  and 
have  endeavored  to  regulate  the  taking  of  Alewives  in  such  a  manner, 
as  that  the  Communitys  who,  without  such  Laws  would  have  the  natural 
Right  of  taking  them,  should  under  such  Regulation  take  as  large  a  pro- 
portion of  them  as  is  consistent  with  the  necessary  Preservation  of  said 
Fish. 

that  the  General  Court  held  in  May  1765  passed  a  Law  forbidding 
Alewives  to  be  taken  any  otherwise  than  by  Scoop  Netts,  saving  an  al- 
lowance to  take  them  in  Taunton  Great  River  two  days  in  the  week  by 
Seines  or  Drag  Netts  allowing  two  Seines  to  each  Town  in  the  County  of 
Bristol,  after  it  shall  be  known  that  they  have  been  at  Middleboro  in  the 
Spring  of  the  Year  annually,  which  Law  is  still  in  force  by  a  continua- 
tion of  the  same  to  November  Anno  Domini  1775. 

The  said  Town  of  Taunton  beg  leave  humbly  to  represent,  that  there 
arc  some  circumstances  attending  said  Town  which  they  Apprehend 
render  that  allowance  not  so  sufficient  for  said  Town,  as  the  General 
Court  might  think  it  was  when  said  Law  was  made. 

That  the  Alewives  in  their  course  from  the  ocean  to  the  Pond  to  cast 
their  spawn  are  obliged  to  come  up  Taunton  Great  River  through  the 
centre  of  the  Town,  that  there  is  a  small  River  called  Mill  River  in  sd 
Town  which  empties  into  the  Great  River  in  said  Town;  that  the  Ale- 
wives used  formerly  to  go  up  said  Mill  River  in  much  greater  quantitys 
than  they  have  done  for  many  years  past,  &  were  used  to  be  taken  with 
Scoop  Netts  in  considerable  quantitys,  but  for  a  number  of  years  past 
they  have  in  great  measure  left  said  Mill  River,  &   keep  their  course 


APPENDIX.  269 

up  the  Great  River  to  Middleboro  Bridgewater  &  other  Towns,  by  means 
whereof  very  few  are  taken  in  said  Mill  River,  not  sufficient  to  pay  the 
expense  of  taking  them,  &  there  is  no  other  place  in  said  Taunton  where 
the  Alewives  can  be  taken  with  Scoop  Netts. 

Your  Petitioners  beg  leave  to  assert,  what  they  are  certain  will  ap- 
yjear  upon  examination,  that  it  has  not  been  owing  to  any  defects  in  the 
Town  of  Taunton  in  not  keeping  the  passage  ways  open  up  said  Mill 
River  according  to  the  Laws  of  this  Province  in  such  case  provided,  that 
the  Alewives  have  left  said  River,  &  proceed  up  the  Great  River  to  the 
Towns  above;  for  the  passages  through  the  Damms  on  said  Mill  River 
have  always  been  carefully  kept  open  according  to  said  Laws,  which  in 
the  nature  of  the  thing  proves  very  detrimental  to  the  Mills  on  said  River 
which  by  means  thereof  are  obliged  to  stand  still  at  a  Time  when  the 
plenty  of  water  &  clemency  of  the  Season  would  render  it  most  profit- 
able for  them  to  woi'k 

Your  Petitioners  would  fuitlier  represent,  that  the  Alewives  passing 
by  said  Mill  River  proceed  up  to  Middleboro  &  other  Towns  where  they 
are  taken  by  Scoop  Netts  with  great  Ease,  and  at  Middleboro  in  great 
l)lenty,  so  that  for  many  years  past  the  chief  of  the  Alewives  that  have 
passed  up  Taunton  Great  River  which  have  been  taken,  have  been  taken 
at  Middleboro,  And  that  this  always  will  be  the  case  unless  the  Town  of 
Taunton  are  allowed  to  take  Alewives  by  Drag  Netts  as  well  as  Dip  Netts. 

Your  Petitioners  would  further  Represent  that  ever  since  the  mak- 
ing the  above  said  Law  allowing  two  Seines  two  stated  days  in  the  week 
they  have  diligently  improved  that  priviledge  but  from  experience  it 
turns  out,  that  that  allowance  is  not  so  great  as  at  first  it  appears  to  be, 
for  that  those  stated  days  often  prove  stormy,  &  even  if  the  weather  be 
fair  the  Alewives  do  not  run  on  some  days  as  on  others. 

From  all  which  your  Petitioners  apprehend  it  appears  that  the  said 
Town  of  Taunton  can't  enjoy  their  just  proportion  of  the  Fish  that  are 
allowed  to  be  taken,  as  the  Law  now  stands  &  that  taking  the  chance  of 
Seasons  with  great  Submission  we  apprehend  that  if  the  Town  of  Taun- 
ton were  allowed  to  draw  six  seines,  four  days  in  the  week  they  would 
not  get  their  proportion  with  the  Town  of  Middleboro,  that  on  the  whole 
more  Alewives  would  not  be  taken,  but  only  more  of  them  would  be 
taken  at  Taunton,  as  the  times  for  taking  them  at  Taunton  &  the  Towns 
above  might  be  the  same. 

Your  Petitioners  have  no  desire  to  frustrate  the  good  Intention  of 
the  wholesome  Laws  made  for  the  preservation  of  the  Alewives  but  as 
they  apprehend  they  are  entitled  by  nature  to  at  least  as  great  a  propor- 
tion of  Alewives  as  the  Inhabitants  of  Middleboro  &  the  other  Towns  & 
on  some  accounts  more,  they  think  it  hard  to  have  the  Alewives  pass  by 
their  Doors  thro  the  Heart  of  their  Town  without  such  a  regulation  of 
the  taking  them  that  they  may  get  their  proportion  of  those  proper  to  be 


270  QUARTER  "Millennial  celebration. 

taken,  &  to  be  obliged  to  undergo  the  expense  &  trouble  of  going  to 
Middleboro  to  buy  the  very  Fish  that  went  by  their  Doors  &  through 
two  large  expensive  Bridges  over  said  Great  River  which  they  have 
erected  &  are  obliged  to  maintain  for  the  public  conveniency 

Your  Petitioners  therefore  humbly  pray  that  your  Excellency  & 
Honours  would  provide  for  the  relief  of  the  said  Town  in  the  piemises 
by  allowing  the  Inhabitants  thereof  to  draw  six  seines  four  days  in  the 
week  during  the  running  of  said  Fish  or  otherwise  relieve  your  Petition- 
ers as  to  your  Excellency  &  Honours  shall  seem  meet  and  your  Petition- 
ers as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray 

Robt.  Treat  Paine 

Danl.  Leonard. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  March  2,  1774. 

Read  and  ordered  that  Henry  Gardner  and  Benjamin  Lincoln  Esqrs.  with 
such  as  the  Hon.  Board  shall  join  be  a  Committee  to  take  this  Petition 
together  with  the  Petitioners  of  the  towns  of  Bridge  water  &  Middleboro 
all  of  them  praying  for  the  regulating  the  Alewive  Fishery  in  Taunton 
Gieat  River:  and  to  repair,  the  next  season  of  the  passing  of  said  Fish 
up  said  River,  to  the  Town  of  Taunton  &  the  several  Towns  thro  or  by 
which  said  River  runs  or  any  stream  or  streams  run  or  pass  into  said 
River,  in  which  stream  or  streams  said  Fish  pass  up  and  Report  to  this 
Court  at  the  next  Session  thereof  what  new  regulations,  if  any,  are  nec- 
essary to  be  made  for  taking  Alewives  in  Taunton  Great  River  and  tlie 
several  Branches  or  streams  running  into  the  same. 

sent  up  for  Concurrence  T.  Gushing  Spkr. 

In  Council  March  8d  1774  is  Read  &  Concurred, 
and  Artemas  Ward  is  joined  in  the  affair. 

Jno.  Cotton    D.  Secry. 
(State  Arch.  Vol.  87.  p.  568.) 


APPENDIX  K. 

(Page  39.) 

Bradford  in  his  history,  p.  loi,  speaking  of  the  first  marriage 
at  I'lyinouth,  between  Edward  Winslow  and  Mrs.  Susannah  NA'hite, 
says: 

"  May  12,  l(i21,  was  yf  first  marriage  in  this  place,  which,  according 
to  y<'  laudable  ciistome  of  y  liow  (Countries  in  which  they  had  lived,  was 
thought  most  lequisite  to  be  peiformed  by  tlu'  nuigistrate  as  being  a 


APPENDIX.  271 

civill  tiling  .  .  .  and  most  consonant  to  y^'  scripturs,  Huth  4,  and  no  wher 
found  in  y*  gospell  to  be  layd  on  y  ministers  as  a  part  of  tlieir  office  .  .  . 
And  tliis  practiss  liatli  continued  amongst  not  only  them,  but  hath  been 
followed  by  all  y  famous  chuiches  of  Christ  in  these  parts  to  this  time. 
^An"  :  1046.  " 

The  solemnization  of  marriage  by  the  civil  authority  alone,  to 
the  exclusion  of  the  minister,  was  at  first  sustained  only  by  public 
opinion,  not  by  positive  law.  But  in  1671  it  was  enacted  by  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts, 

"  That  no  person  in  this  Jurisdiction  shall  joyne  any  persons  to- 
gether in  marriage,  but  the  Magistrate,  or  such  other  as  the  Court  shall 
authorize  in  such  place  where  no  magistrate  is  near,  nor  shall  any  joyn 
themselves  in  marriage,  but  before  some  Magistrate,  or  person  author- 
ized as  aforesaid.  " 

It  was  not  until  1692  that  the  Provincial  Statute  provided  that 
"every  Justice  of  the  Peace  within  the  County  where  he  resides, 
and  every  settled  minister  in  any  town,  shall  and  are  hereby  re- 
spectively impowerd  and  authorized  to  solemnize  marriages  tScc.  " 

The  fee  for  each  marriage  was  three  shillings. 

(i  Prov.  Sts.  c.  25.  p.  61.) 

See  an  interesting  article  on  this  subject  in  the  Atlantic 
Monthly  of  April,  1888,  by  Frank  Gaylord  Cooke,  Esq.,  of  the 
Boston  Bar. 


APPENDIX  L. 

[Page  40.] 

The  act  creating  the  office  of  town  clerk  in  1646  was  in  these 
words  : 

"It  is  enacted  by  the  Court  that  there  shalbee  in  eiiery  towue  with- 
in this  (iou  ment  a  Clarke  or  some  one  appointed  and  ordeined  to  keep 
a  Hegester  of  the  day  and  yeare  of  the  marriage  beirth  and  buriall  of 
euery  man  woman  and  child  within  theire  towneship;  and  to  haue 
thripence  apece  for  each  ptculare  i)son  soe  registered;  and  fiuther  it  is 
enacted  that  eiiery  father  or  mother  and  next  in  relation  shall  certify  to 
tlie  towne  clarke  or  register  keeper  the  name  and  day  of  the  beirth  of 
euery  child  soe  borne  in  his   house    within  one  mouth  next  after  it  is 


272  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

borne  or  bee  fined  for  euery  such  default  three  shillings  the  one  half  to 
tlie  Gou  nient  and  the  other  halfe  moyetie  thereof  to  the  clarke  or  reg- 
ister keeper  vpon  his  complaint  and  that  euery  pson  married  shall  signi- 
fy his  and  her  name  with  the  day  on  which  they  are  married  vnto  the 
said  clarke  or  register  keeper  within  one  month  next  after  his  said  mar- 
riage vpon  the  like  penaltie  of  three  shillings  the  one  halfe  thereof  to 
the  vse  of  the  Collonie;  and  the  other  halfe  to  the  said  clarke  or  register 
keeper  vpon  his  complaint  and  alsoe  that  euery  master  or  mistris  of  the 
family  in  which  any  pson  or  pson  next  in  relation  to  them  soe  dead  shall 
giue  notice  vnto  the  said  Clarke  or  register  keeper;  the  name  of  the  pson 
and  the  day  of  his  said  buriall  and  in  defect  thereof  to  forfeit  three  shil- 
lings for  every  default;  the  one  half  to  the  Gou  ment  and  the  other  halfe 
to  the  clarke  or  register  keeper  upon  his  complaint;  and  that  the  clarke 
or  register  keeper  of  each  township  shall  exhibite  a  true  and  pfect  Coppy 
fairly  written  annually  att  March  Courts  vnto  the  Court  of  the  beirthes 
marriages  and  burialls  of  the  yeare  past;  and  lastly  that  the  clarke  or 
register  keeper  of  euery  Township  shall  publish  all  the  contracts  of  mar- 
riages and  haue  twelve  pence  for  his  fees  for  euery  marriage  as  hee  pub- 
lisheth  orderly;     (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  52  and  p.  189.) 

THE    OATH    OF    A    TOWNE    CLARKE. 

You  shall  faithfully  serue  in  the  office  of  a  Towne  Clarke  of  the 
Towne  of  for  this  prsent  yeare  and  soe  long  as  by  mutuall  Con- 

sent the  Towne  and  yovi  shall  agree  during  which  time  you  shall  care- 
fully and  faithfully  keep  all  such  Records  as  you  shalbee  Intrusted  with- 
all;  and  shall  record  all  towne  acts  and  orders  and  shall  enter  all  Towne 
graunts  and  Conveyances  you  shall  record  all  beirtes  marriages  and 
burialls  that  shalbee  brought  vnto  you  within  youer  towne  and  shall 
publish  all  Contracts  of  marriages  you  shalbee  required  to  doe  accord- 
ing to  order  of  Court  bearing  date  the  2()th  day  of  October  1G40  soe  healp 
you  God;     (XI  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  107  and  p.  19U.J 

How  soon  after  this  law  Taunton  chose  a  town  clerk,  is  not 
now  certainly  known,  but  in  an  old  record  book  of  the  town,  re- 
cently discovered  we  read  that, 

"  Upon  March  7th  1654  at  a  general  town  meeting  warned  by  Jolin 
Deane  Constable  of  Taunton  was  Oliver  Purchis  chosen  to  be  the  Towne 
Clarke  to  keep  all  registers  and  records  appertaining  to  town  matters 
according  to  order  of  Court,  and  to  take  his  oathe  according  to  order  of 
Court  also  for  a  man  sustaining  legal  office.  " 

The  first  record  of  the  election  of  Shadrach  Wilbore  as  town 
clerk,  in  1664,  reads  thus: 


APPENDIX.  273 

*'The  Town  clerk  chosen  for  tlie  present  year  being  this  sixtli  ot 
Marcli,  11)64,  or  5,  is  Shadracli  AVilbore,  and  so  to  continue  as  lon<r  as  lie 
the  said  ('lerk  and  the  town  shall  agree. 

And  it  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  this  sixth  of  March.  \&'<A-') 
that  the  said  f'lerk  shall  have  of  the  town  twenty  shillings  by  the  year. 

And  it  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  at  a  town  meeting,  that  the 
said  town  commit  to  the  said  Town  Clerk  to  keep  the  Town  Book  and 
the  Registry  the  day  and  year  above  written.  "     (Prop.  Rec.  p.  ) 


'  APPENDIX  La. 

[Page  40.] 

No  doubt  before  the  law  actually  so  required,  the  town  had 
found  it  necessary  to  select  some  of  its  wisest  men,  to  whom  as 
ajo^ents  was  intrusted  the  management  of  town  affairs  ;  for  in  the 
earliest  records  of  the  town,  kept  by  Oliver  Purchis.  and  which 
have  recently  been  discovered  in  an  old  junk  store  in  Boston,  we 
read  that  so  early  as  December,  1643,  the  town  voted — 

"That  seven  men  be  yearly  chosen  to  order  towue  affairs 
"That  these  seven   shall   meet  six  times   in  a  year  at  some  convenient 
place  to  consider  and  order  town  matters,  and  to  hear  and  arbitrate  dif- 
ferences. 

That  these  seven  shall  have  power  to  determine  of  all  trespasses  and 
debts  under  three  pounds,  and  none  to  enter  any  suits  in  court  for  such 
trespasses  or  debts  without  their  consent. 

That  these  shall  have  power  (consent  hereunto  of  the  Magistrates  and 
General  Court  for  this  patent  being  first  obtained)  to  give  warrant  to 
destrain  or  attach  for  such  debts  or  trespasses,  as  likewise  for  notes  that 
are  or  shall  be  unpaid. 

That  no  inhabitant,  or  other  that  hath  a  homelott,  shall  buy  any  other 
homelott,  but  with  the  consent  of  these  seven, 
(illegible) 

as  also  that  these  shall  have  power  to  ad  unto  any  mans  divi.sion  upland 
according  to  their  discretion. 

Item:  That  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  said  seven  men  according  to 
their  discretions  to  divide  and  distribute  the  said  lands  unto  the  said 
inhabitants  according  as  they  shall  from  time  to  time  see  needful  and 
convenient. 


274        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

That  these  shall  have  poM'er  to  admitt  as  inhabitants  and  to  dispose  to 
them  either  certain  small  portions  of  lands  without  giving  them  rights 
in  other  divisions,  or  to  admitt  them  to  all  divisions  with  others  accord- 
ing to  their  discretions,  but  not  to  admitt  any  to  a  certain  quantity  ex- 
ceeding ten  acres,  without  the  consent  of  the  towne. 
That  when  any  shall  be  proposed  to  them  for  admission  they  shall  first 
acquaint  the  Towne  therewith,  and  not  to  receive  them  as  inhabitants 
till  all  just  exceptions  are  I'emoved. 

That  these  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  small  quantities  of  land  yt  lye 
not  within  ye  compass  of  g (probably  great)  divisions,  to  any  inhabi- 
tant ye  standeth  in  need,  and  also  f — (probably  for)  conveniency  accord- 
ing to  ye (probably  discretion)  of  ye  seven. 

That  a  convenient  quantity  of  meadow  down  the  river  be  reserved  to  be 
divided  by  the  same  proportion  and  rule  of  other  meadow  and  upland 
according  to  ye  discretion  of  these  seven  either  to  after  commers,  or  to 
such  as  shall  be  possessed  of  lots  of  those  who  have  left  the  place  as  they 
(illlegible)  shall  think  good,     (illegible)  such  (illegible)" 

Under  date  of  March    1645,  ^'^^   same  records   show  another 
vote  of  the  town  in  these  words  : 

"  Item:  These  seven  men  which  shall  be  yearly  chosen  shall  have  power 
to  divide  and  dispose  of  lots  and  parcels  of  ye  meadow  called  bcaddings 
Moore,  according  as  from  time  to  time  they  shall  see  needful  unto  such 
who  shall  be  deemed  mete  by  their  necessities  of  fodr  for  their  cattle, 
until  the  said  medow  be  wholly  disposed;  this  act  is  repealed,  only 
James  Wyatt's  grant  of  six  acres  within  the  said  medow  before  this  re- 
peal, and  is  provided  that  he  shall  have  no  part  in  any  other  division  of 
ye  said  medow. 

Item :  At  ye  aforesaid  day  were  chosen  for  ye  seven  men  these  follow- 
ing for  ye  yeare. 

Henry  Andrews  Otis  Olney 

George  Hall  John  Strong 

Edward  Case  Richard  Williams 

William  Parker  Walter  Deane" 

1647.  From  the  deed  to  Henry  Andrews  in  1647,  of  the  "calf  pasture, " 
it  seems  that  these  seven  in  that  year  were  John  Strong,  Oliver  Puichis, 
Walter  Deane,  Richard  Williams,  Edward  Case,  (the  name  of  the  other 
two  are  not  given  in  the  deed) 

The  record  above  referred  to  contains  also  these  elections  of  selected 
men. 

March  9,  1G48.  There  is  chosen  for  the  following  yeare  1G49  to  be  the 
seven  men  to  order  the  Towne  affairs.     Mr.   Thomas  Gilbert.  Walter 


APPENDIX.  275 

Deane,  Edward  Case,  James  Wyatt,  Richard  Williams,  George  Masey, 
Oliver  Purchis. 

March  7,  1049.     It  is  mutually  chosen  to  serve  as  seven  men  for  the  pres- 
ent yeare  following,  as  foUoweth: 

Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane 

Henry  Andrews  William  Parker 

James  Wyatt  James  Walker 

Oliver  Purchis. 

Ai)ril  the  sixth,  1650.     There  is  chosen  to  serve  men  to  order  Towne  af- 
fairs for  this  present  yeare,  viz: 

Richard  Williams  James  Wyatt 

James  Walker  George  Macey 

William  Parker  JnO.  Tisdall 

Oliver  Purchis 

March  the  11th.  1051.     There  is  chosen  for  the  yeare  following  viz.  1652, 

to  serve  as  seven  men  to  order  Towne  affairs. 

Lieut.  Wyatt  Richard  Williams 

Walter  Deane  William  Parker 

Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert  James  Walker 

Oliver  Purchis 

January  the  15tli.     Ano.  1656.     This  agreed  by  the  towne  that  these  five 

men,  to  wit,  Captaine  Poole,  Deacon  Williams,  Deacon  Deane,  James 

Wyatt  and  George  Hall,  shall  order  all  matters  in  and  about  the  erecting 

seats  in  the  meeting  house,  and  shall  seate  the  inhabitants  according  to 

their  discretion.  "     (these  may  or  may  not  have  been  the  same  as  chosen 

to  order  town  affairs) 

1657.     These  were  for  the  year.  Captain  William  Poole,  George  Hall,  Mr. 

William  Parker,  Lieut.  James  Wyatt  and  John  Deane. 

December  the  27th.  1658.     The  5  men  chosen  to  order  towne  affairs  are 

Richard    Williams,    Wm.    Parker,   George   Mase,  John  Tisdale,   James 

Walker" 

The  law  creating  the  legal  office  of  Selectmen  may  be  found  in 
2  Ply.  Col.  Records,  p. 

Suits  were  sometimes  brought  by  the  settlers  against  the  se- 
lectmen to  recover  their  lots,  one  of  which  reads  in  this  way  : 

"March,  5th.  1667.     William  Hailstone  complained  against  George  Hall, 

William  Harvey,  and  Richard  Williams,  as  celectmen  of  the  towne  of 

Taunton,  in  an  action  of  the  case,  to  the  damage  of  fifty  pounds,  for  non 

pformance  of  a  towne  order  of  the  towne  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  bearing 

date  the  9th.  of  September,  1667,*  respecting  land  due  to  him  vpon  deui- 

*Nc>TE.    It  should  l)e  remeuiberecl  that  at  the  time,  September,  1GC7,  was  earlier 
than  March  liJCT,  as  the  year  commeneeU  about  March  2.'5th,  instead  of  January  1st. 


27^  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

slon,  as  being  an  ancient  purchaser.  The  jury  find  for  the  plaintiffe  his 
proportion  of  land  due  him  as  appeers  by  their  towne  orders,  twelue 
pence  damage,  and  the  cost  of  the  suite. 

A  review  was  granted  to   defendants  of   this  action.     The  names  of 
tlie  jui'y  that  tryed  tlie  last  aboue  named  were,  sworne: 
William  Peabody  John  Thompson  .lohn  Tracye 

Thomas  Tilden  Henery  Wood  Gilbert  Brookes 

Andrew  Hindge  Samuell  Sturtivant         Saniuell  Hyder 

Ensign  Jonathan  Alden,  William  Swift  William  Foard.  Jr. 

(Ply.  Col,  Rec.  Voh  VIL  p.  143.) 


APPENDIX   M. 

[Page  41.1 


On  June  3,  1646,  the  (Jeneral  Court  gave  the  town  permission 
to  purchase  a  calf  pasture  as  follows  : — 

"  The  Court  doth  graunt  to  the  inhabits  of  Taunton  that  they  shall 
purchase  the  pcell  or  neck  of  land,  or  yland,  lying  at  namaskett  Pond, 
or  Wtj,  in  the  sd  pond  w< ''  they  desire  for  a  calues  pasture,  and  to  haue 
the  u.se  of  it  vntill  there  shalbe  a  plantacon  erected  there  abouts  to  whom 
it  may  be  helpfull;  and  that  then  they,  paying  the  purchase  and  r.he 
charg  that  Taunton  inhits  shalbe  at  about  the  said  pcell  of  land,  shall 
haue  such  pt  thereof  as  shalbe  thought  meete  by  the  Court.  "  (2  Ply. 
Col.  Rec.  p.  102.) 

This  tract  was  apparently  beyond  the  limits  of  the  original 
purchase  of  Taunton;  and  on  April  iith,  1647,  it  was  conveyed 
by  the  town  to  Mr.  Andrews,  in  payment  for  the  erection  of  the 
meeting-house,  by  a  deed  in  these  words,  viz: 

MRADFORD     (iOV'R. 

"This  indenture  following  was  recorded  by  order  from  the  Court: 

This  Indenture  made  the  eleventh  day  of  the  second  month  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1647  between  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  in  the  colony 
of  New  Plymouth  in  New  England  of  the  one  party,  and  Henry  Andrews 
inhabitant  of  the  said  plantation  of  Taunton  within  the  colony  of  New 
Plymouth  in  New  England  of  the  other  party  witnesseth,  that  whereas 
there  was  a  certain  parcel  of  land  or  neck  of  land  appertaining  unto  the 
inliabitants  of  'i'aunton  aforesaid  called  by  the  said  inhabitants  their 
calves  pasture,  That  this  parcel   or  neck  of  land,    it  lying  and  being 


APPENDIX.  277 

l)oiiii(lc!(l  by  the  Great  River  lioin  the  land  of  Kichaid  Williams  inlial)!- 
taiit  ot  Taunton  heading'  it  the  said  neek  at  the  upper  eorner  thereof, 
and  the  land  of  George  Hall,  inhabitant  of  Taunton  heading  it  at  the 
lower  corner  thereof  or  near  unto  it,  &c,  This  parcel  or  neck  of  land 
with  its  appurtenances  is  granted  and  sold  by  the  inhabitants  of  Taun- 
ton aforesaid  unto  him  the  aforesaid  Henry  Andrews  and  his  heirs  and 
executors  or  assigns,  To  have  and  to  hold  forever  in  lieu  of  a  meeting 
house  built  by  him  the  aforesaid  Henry  Andrews  for  the  inhabitants  of 
Taunton  aforesaid  for  their  full  satisfaction  for  the  said  neck  of  land, 
and  for  his  peaceable  and  secure  enjoyment  thereof  by  him  the  said 
Henry  Andrews  or  his  assigns,  &c,  any  or  every  of  them,  it  is  further 
promised  by  the  inhabitants  aforesaid  that  all  such  manner  of  persons 
as  have  been  heretofore  inhabitants  resident  within  this  plantation  of 
Taunton  them  or  their  heirs  or  assigns  that  shall  challenge  or  demand 
any  i)art  or  portion  in  the  aforesaid  neck  of  land,  shall  be  either  satisfied 
for  their  part  of  the  charge  bestowed  thereon  by  the  town  in  fencing, 
thereof  to  make  it  a  calves  pasture  or  else  be  satisfied  in  land  in  some 
other  place.  As  also  it  is  by  these  presents  witnessed  and  promised  by 
the  inhabitants  aforesaid,  that  this  said  parcel  or  necke  of  land  shall 
not  be  rated  by  the  town  aforesaid:  and  for  the  better  confirmation  of 
this  deed  have  the  seven  men  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton 
aforesiiid  to  order  the  atrairs  of  the  town  for  that  present  year,  have  .set 
to  their  hands  for  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

John  Strong. 

Oliver  Purchis. 

Walter  Deane. 

Richaril  Williams. 

Edward  Case. 
(Ply.  Ucc.  of  Deeils  Vol.  II.  p.  57.) 


APPENDIX  N. 

[Page  42.] 

Mr.  Haylies.  who  wrote  before  the  loss  of  the  Town  records  in 
1838,  thus  states  the  action  of  the  Town  as  to  these  iron  works. 

"  It  was  at  a  town  meeting  conferred  and  agreed  upon  between  the 
inhabitants  of  Taunton  and  Henry  Leonard  of  Braintree: 

Imi)riniis.  It  was  agreed  and  granted  by  the  town  to  Henry  and 
James  Leonard,  his  brother,  and  Ralph  Russell,  free  consent  to  come 
hither  and  join  with  certain  of  our  inhabitants  to  set  up  a  Bloomery 
work  on  the  Two  Mile  River. 


2yS  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

"It  was  also  agreed  and  granted  by  a  free  vote  of  the  Town,  that 
such  particular  inhabitants  as  shall  concur  together  with  the  said  per- 
sons in  this  design,  shall  have  free  liberty  from  the  town  so  to  do,  to 
build  and  set  up  this  work,  and  that  they  shall  have  the  woods  on  either 
side  of  the  Two  Mile  River,  wherever  it  is  common  on  that  side  of  the 
river,  to  cut  for  their  cord  wood  to  make  coals,  and  also  to  dig  and  take 
moine  or  ore  at  Two  Mile  Meadow,  or  in  any  of  the  commons  apper- 
taining to  the  town,  where  it  is  not  now  in  propriety.  "  (Baylies,  Part 
II.  p.  268.) 

Documentary  evidence  in  the  hand-writing  of  Oliver  Purchis,  the 
first  town  clerk,  gives  these  persons  as  proprietors  "  in  the  Bloomerie,  " 
viz: 

The  names  of  those  who  hath  put  in  themselves  to  be  proprietors  in 
the  Bloomerie,  viz:  Hezekiah  Hoare,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Richard  Williams, 
Walter  Dean,  George  Hall,  Oliver  Purchis,  James  Walker,  John  Tisdale, 
Wm.  Parker,  Mr.  Gilbert  Senr.,  Peter  Pitts,  Richard  Stacey,  John  Cobb, 
Wm.  Hodges,  Nathaniel  Woodward,  Timothy  Holloway,  James  Burt, 
Edward  Bobitt,  Jonah  Austin  Senr.,  John  Parker,  Samuel  Wilbore,  Miss 
E.  Pole,  Jane  Pole. 

Additional  records  show  the  names  of  Wm.  Pole,  Timothy  Lindall 
of  Salem,  his  son-in-law,  Nicholas  White  Senr.,  Henry  Withington,  John 
Turner,  Thomas  Linkon  Senr.,  Anthony  Slocum,  James  Leonard. 
Thomas  Amsbery,  Jos.  Wilbore,  Henry  Andrews,  John  Hall.  James 
Phillips,  Francis  Smith,  Geo.  Watson,  Gov.  Leverett  and  Major  Edward 
Tyng  of  Boston,  Nath'l.  Paine  Senr.  and  Stephen  Paine  of  Rehoboth, 
John  Gary  and  Nathaniel  Paine  Jr.,  of  Bristol,  Benedict  Arnold  of  New- 
port, Richard  Thayer  of  Braintree — contributing  from  20  pounds  to  5 
pounds  each,  for  whole,  half  and  quarter  shares. 

(.See  a  valuable  article  by  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  read  before  the  Okl  Colony  Histori- 
cal Society,  No.  3.  ]).  134.) 


APPENDIX  O. 

(Page  45.) 


The  report  of  the  Committee  defining  the  boundaries  of  Taun- 
ton in  1640,  is  thus  recorded  : 

"  The  limmits  and  bounds  of  the  plantacon  of  the  townc  of  Taunton 
als  Cohannet,  wthin  the  goument  of  Plymouth,  bounded  and  )angcd  for 
length  and  breadth,  by  order  of  Court,  by  Miles  Standish  &  John  Browne, 


APPENDIX.  279 

gentlcm,  Assistants  in  the  ffoumcnt,  the  Xixth  day  of  June,  ano  Dm 
1640,  in  the  xvjth  yeaie  of  our  souaine  k)icl,  Charles,  &g,  as  followeth, 
vizs: — 

Impiis  from  two  marked  trees  nere  vnto  Asonet,  a  neck  of  hind  heing 
hetweene  Asonet  and  them,  lying  southerly,  and  from  the  said  marked 
trees  ranging  east  and  by  south  foure  miles;  rangeing  also  from  the  ex- 
tent of  the  said  foure  miles  north  and  by  west;  also  from  two  markt 
trees  neere  the  Three  Mile  Riuer,  lying  southerly  of  Taunton,  the  rang 
to  runn  foure  miles  west  &  by  north;  and  from  the  extent  of  this  last 
menconed  foure  miles,  the  rang  to  runn  north  and  by  west  eight  miles; 
moreou,  from  the  extent  of  this  eight  miles  range,  then  the  range  to  runn 
on  the  east  and  by  south  line,  to  meete  w'^  the  former  expressed  north 
and  by  west  lyne  vpon  a  long  square;  alwayes  puided,  that  if  these 
ranges  do  not  take  in  a  place  called  Schadingmore  Meddowes,  the  said 
Schadingmore  Meddows  to  be  included  as  belonging  to  the  aforesaid 
towne  of  Taunton,  wth  one  thousand  acrees  of  vpland  neere  and  adjacent 
vnto  the  said  meddowes;  prouided  likewise,  that  these  lines  do  not 
iiititle  the  said  towne  of  Taunton  to  intermeddle  wthin  two  miles  of 
Teightaquid. 

MILES  STANDISH, 

JOHN  BROWN." 
(2  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  UU-IOO. ) 


APPENDIX  P. 

[Page  45.] 

The  first  addition  seems  to  have  been  of  meadow  lands  at 
Assonet,  in  March,  1640,  when  the  General  Court  passed  this 
order : — 

''WHEREAS  the  inhabitants  of  Cohaunett,  now  called  Taunton, 
haue  complayned  of  thire  greate  want  of  meddow  grounds,  the  wch.  hath 
beene  seriously  weighed  and  considered  vpon  by  speciall  order  of  the 
whole  body  of  the  Court,  and  fynding  their  wants  to  be  such  that  vnlesse 
they  be  supplyed  of  meddow  lands  they  cannot  comfortably  there  sub- 
sist, the  Couit  doth  therefore  now  order  and  graunt  the  meadow  lands 
at  Assonett,  and  betwixr.  Taunton  and  Assonett  on  both  sides  of  the 
riuer,  vnto  the  said  inhabitants  of  Taunton,  prouided  always  that  the 
ministers  and  people  now  there  which  are  fitt  &  do  pceede  &  contin- 
ue in  a  church  estate  there  the  space  of  seauen  yeares  next  ensuing,  (ex- 


280  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ccpt  some  speciall  hand  of  God  doe  hinder  the  same,)  that  then  the 
meddow  lands  aforesaid  shalbe  to  them  and  theire  heires,  to  haue  &  to 
liold  to  them  &  theire  heires  foreuer.  "     (1  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  142.) 

In  1643,  the   inhabitants   of  Taunton    having   applied    to  the 

General  Court  for  permission  to  purchase   more  wood  and  pasture 

land,  the  Court  passed  this  order  :     (2  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  58.) 

"  The  Court  is  willing  to  condescend  thus  far,  viz:  that  those  lands 
which  belono;  to  Hesbone  may  be  procured  by  all  due  means,  and  with 
what  convenient  speed  may  be;  also  that  the  best  and  speediest  means 
be  used  to  procure  them  further  enlargement  on  that  side  of  the  Main 
Kiver  to  answer  to  Mr  Hooke  and  Mr.  Street's  farms  on  the  other  side; 
and  whereas  they  desire  the  Neck  of  Assonet  for  pasturing  young  beasts, 
it  is  also  granted  by  the  court,  provided  leave  can  be  procured  from 
Ousamequin,  and  all  payments  to  be  made  by  themselves  without  any 
charge  to  the  country;  but  whereas  the  timber  is  requested  below  the 
said  bounds,  that  we  cannot  grant  without  great  detriment  to  another 
plantation  intended  below  that.  " 

This  land  was  probably  bought  of  Ossamequin  (or  Massasoit,) 
for  in  1663  his  son  Philip  made  a  confirmatory  deed  of  the  same, 
as  well  as  of  the  original  first  purchase  ;  a  copy  of  which  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  March  23,  1663.  These  Presents  wituesseth.  That  wheieas  tl)ere 
was  a  plantation  graunted  by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  in  the  year  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-eight  (named  Taunton)  to  sundry  per- 
sons whoe  there  satt  downe  viz:  Capt.  William  Poole,  Mr.  John  Gilbert, 
Ilenery  Drew,  John  Dean,  Walter  Deane  and  sundi-y  others,  the  bounds 
of  which  plantation  are  expressed  in  the  graunt  of  the  Court  of  Ply- 
mouth according  to  the  several  points  of  the  compass,  therein  expressed, 
which  plantation  so  bounded  as  above  mentioned,  together  with  the 
meadows  upon  the  Great  River  downward  so  far  as  the  Store  House 
Point  so  called,  with  all  the  meadow  of  Assonett  and  Broad  Cove,  with 
a  small  tract  of  land  bought  of  Ishbon  lying  betwixt  the  maikcd  tree  at 
the  pond  and  the  mouth  of  the  Xistoyoahamock  or  the  Three  Mile  River, 
which  lands  and  meadows  with  their  appurtenances,  immunities  and 
privileges  whatsoever  were  bought  of  Ousamequin  by  the  parties  above 
mentioned;  I  Philip  Sachem  do  therefore  by  these  presents,  ratify  and 
confirm  for  myself  my  heirs  and  successors  the  granted  premises  nuide 
by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  and  also  assented  unto  by  Ousamecpiin  my 
father,  to  the  aforesaid  inhabitants  of  Taunton  and  their  heirs  mid  suc- 
cessors forever,  peaceably  to  enjoy   without  molestation  or  disturbance 


APPENDIX.  281 

from,  by  or  under  me.     Witness  my  liand  and  seal   the  day  and   year 
above  written. 
Witness 

John  Sasamou,  Interpreter. 

Philip  the  Sachem 
"  his  P  mark  and  |scal| 
The  mark  X  of  Pemichason  alias  Nimrod. 

This  confirmation  was  signed  and  sealed  before  me  the  day  and  year 
above  expressed.     Witness  my  hand. 

THOMAS  WILLETT. 
(Ply.  Rec.  of  Deeds,  Vol.  III.  page  13,  part  1.) 

In  October  of  the  same  year  (1663)  the  southern  boundary  of 
these  purchases  was  thus  defined  by  the  General  Court  : 

"The  inhabitants  of  the  towne  of  Taunton  having  seuerall  times,  for 
diners  yeares,  complained  of  the  straightness  of  the  bounds  of  their 
towne  and  haueing  petitioned  the  Court  for  some  enlargment,  the  Court 
haueing  desired  some  to  take  a  view  of  what  they  haue  desired,  and 
finding  that  it  is  not  likely  to  bee  prejudiciall  to  any,  they  graunt  as  fol- 
loweth,  vizs:  that  the  path  which  goeth  from  Namassakett  to  Assonet 
Riuer  bee  theire  bounds  on  the  southeast,  and  soe  by  a  line  from  thence 
to  Baiting  Brooke,  and  from  Baiting  Brooke  a  north  line  till  it  meet 
with  theire  opposite  line  called  the  Longe  Square,  prouided  that  it  come 
not  within  two  miles  of  Tetacut;  alsoe,  it  is  graunted  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Taunton  that  haue  interest  in  the  iron  workes  there  shall  haue 
free  libertie  to  cutt  wood  on  those  lands  for  the  vse  of  theire  iron 
workes,  but  not  any  foraigner  excepting  Richard  Church,  of  Hingham." 

(4  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  45.) 

The  original  Taunton  was  apparently  separated  from  Titacut 
by  an  intervening  strip  of  land,  about  two  miles  wide  :  and  this 
territory  soon  became  an  object  of  desire  by  the  settlers;  and  in 
1660,  the  General  Court  made  this  preliminary  order  in  regard  to 
it .    viz  : 

"Apcell  of  land,  lying  betwixt  Tetacutt  and  Taunton,  is  to  bee 
viewed  by  Constant  Southworth  and  William  Peabody,  and  if  it  shalnot 
bee  found  within  the  bounds  of  Taunton,  nor  to  neare  Tetacutt,  that 
then  William  Brett,  John  Willis.  Thomas  Haward.  Senior,  and  Arthur 
Harris  haue  a  competency  graunted  and  confeirmed  vnto  them,  if  it  bee 
there  to  bee  found:  if  not,  they  have  libertie  to  looke  out  for  further 
supply  with  what  conveniency  they  can.  "  (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  III.  page 
193. ) 


282  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

This  soon  led  to  a  grant  by  tlie  Court,  in  16(55  unto  William  Brett, 
Thomas  Haward,  Sen.,  Arthur  Harris,  Richard  Williams,  John  Willis 
and  John  Carey,  to  each  of  them  three-score  acres  of  land  hjiixj  betwixt 
the  Itinds  of  Tdunton  and  Titlcat;  but  in  case  these  lands  shall  any  of 
them  fall  within  the  last  grant  of  Taunton,  these  lands  being  before 
granted  to  these  men,  notwithstanding,  it  shall  not  make  the  former 
grant  void,  but  that  the  said  lands  shall  be  and  remain,  with  all  and 
singular  the  appurtenances  belonging  unto  them,  to  the  said  William 
Brett,  Thomas  Haward,  Sen.,  Arthur  Harris,  Richard  Williams,  John 
Carey,  to  them  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever."  (Ply.  Col.  Rec. 
Vol.  IV.  p.  45. ) 


APPENDIX  Q. 

[Page  45.] 

In  the  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  IV.  p.   i8,  (1662)  we  read  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Captaine  Willett  is  appointed  by  the  Court  to  purchase  the  lands 
of  the  Indians   which  is  graunted  vnto  such  that   were  servants,  and 

others  that  are   ancient  freemen,  which  the thinkes  meet  to  add 

to  them  to  haue  interest  in  the  said  graunt,  the  tenure  whereof  is  extant 
in  the of  the  Court. 

And    still  later  at  the  same  Court,  p.  28,  another  vote  was 
passed  as  follows : 

"  Att  this  Court,  Captaine  Willett  and  some  other  whom  hee  shall 
thinke  meet,  are  requested  by  the  Court  to  view  the  bounds  of  Taunton, 
wherein  they  desire  to  bee  enlarged;  and  if  hee  sees  it  convenient,  and 
that  it  bee  not  prejudiciall  to  others,  to  confeirm  it  to  them;  and  incase 
that  Captaine  Willett  shall  neglect  soe  to  doe,  the  Court  haue  declared 
that  they  will  take  some  course  to  answare  theire  desires  att  the  next 
March  Court.  " 

These  votes  prepared  the  way  for  the  purchase  of  much  land 
of  the  Indians,  including  the  North  Purchase. 

June  ;},  lfi(i2.  In  reference  vnto  a  former  graunt  to  sundry  ancient 
freemen  of  the  towne  of  Taunton,  to  looke  out  lands  for  their  accomoda- 
tion, and  in  answare  to  the  request  of  some  others  that  are  joyned  with 
them  in  desiring  accomodations  of  land,  the  Court  haue  granted  vnto 


APPENDIX.  283 

them  tliat  they  shalbee  accomodated  on  tlie  lands  on  the  northerly  bonnds 
of  Tannton,  and  that  the  major,  Captaine  .Sonthwortli,  and  Captaine 
Bradford  are  appointed  by  the  Court  to  purchase  the  same  of  the  Indians 
in  the  behalf(!  of  those  hecrafter  named,  prouided  that  which  shalbee 
purchased  shall  not  bee  prejudicial!  to  the  Indians. 
The  names  were  as  follows : 

Captaine  Thomas  Southworth.     Josepth  Warren. 

Mr.  Willam  Parker.  Leif  t  James  Wyatc. 

Mr.  Henery  Andrews.  John  Morton. 

John  Parker.  Ephraim  Morton. 

Gabriell  Fallowell.  Robert  Finney. 

Gyles  Rickard,  Senior.  Ensigne  Marke  Eames. 

Richard  Wright.  William  Paybody. 

Anthony  Snow.  George  Hall. 

Nathaniell  Morton.  John  Deane. 

Mr.  John  Gilbert.  Walter  Deane. 

Captaine  Poole.  John  Dunham,  Jr. 

James  Walker.  John  Rogers. 

Richard  Williams.  George  Bonum. 

John  Wood.  Jonathan  Briggs. 

Henery  Wood.  Dauid  Briggs. 

Willam  Harlow.  John  Bundey. 

It  is  ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  abousaid  land  shalbee  purchased 
by  the  next  June  Court,  and  not  to  exceed  such  a  proportion  as  is  suit- 
able in  quantity  to  soe  much  as  such  a  number  as  those  haue  that  had  a 
graunt  with  the  major  in  those  two  graunts  or  tracts  before  mentioned 
in  thisbooke.     (Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  IV.  page  20.)  1602. 

Subsequently  three  others  were  added  to  the  above  list,  viz. :  Mr. 
John  Done,  John  Smalley,  &  Jonathan  Sparrow.     Id.  p.  27. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Blake  in  a  very  valuable  paper  read  before  the 
Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  in  1855.  thus  describes  the  acqui- 
sition of  the  North  Purchase  : 

"In  1661  [or  1662]  Capt.  Thomas  Willett  of  Rehoboth,  either  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Court  or  by  his  own  sagacity,  bought  this  whole  irreg- 
ular tract  of  Wamsutta  or  Alexander,  the  son  and  successor  of  Massasoit 
as  chief  of  the  Pokenokets.  This  territory  so  ])urchased  was  by  the  Col- 
ony put  into  the  hands  of  a  Committee — Mr.  Thcmias  Prence,  Major  Jos- 
ias  Winslow,  Capt.  Thomas  Southworth,  and  Mr.  Constant  Southworth, - 
"to  settle  and  dispose  of  said  lands  for  the  Colonies  use.  "  A  portion 
of  this  territory  was  granted  by  the  Plymouth  Court  to  the  town  of  Reho- 
both and  called  the  "  Rehoboth  North  Purchase.  "  This  tract  included 
Attleboro,  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  and  parts  of  Norton  and  Mansfield.     But 


284  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

all  the  lej^ion  between  Attleboio  and  Biidftewater — some  fifty  square 
miles — and  the  balance  of  Willett's  puiehase  was  still  in  possession  of 
the  Colony.  It  was  bounded  by  the  Massachusetts  Patent  on  the  north, 
by  Bridgewatei'  on  the  east,  by  Taunton  on  the  south,  and  by  Rehoboth 
North  Purchase  on  the  west.  Taunton  projected  its  northern  corner 
half  way  through  this  trapezium.  The  idea  that  Taunton  ought  to 
l)OSsesss  the  region  into  which  it  had  so  far  projected  its  northern  horn> 
took  shape  in  a  company  of  its  chief  citizens  to  buy  it  of  the  colony.  A 
bargain  was  soon  made  and  a  deed  granted  to  fifty-two  purchasers.  It  is 
dated  6th  June,  1608,  and  this  is  a  copy  from  the  Ply.  Col.  Deeds,  Book, 
3,  p.  118. 

PKENCE    OOVR. 

*'  Whereas  the  Generall  Court  of  New  Plymouth  have  Imi)Owered  Mr. 
Thomas  Prence,  Major  Josias  Winslow,  Capt.  Thomas  Southworth  and 
Mr.  Constant  Southworth  to  take  notice  of  some  purchases  of  land  lately 
made  by  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  and  to  settle  and  dispose  the  said  lands 
for  the  Colonies  use — Know  therefore  all  whom  it  may  anyway  concern. 
That  the  above  named  Mr.  Thomas  Pience,  Captaine  Thomas  South- 
worth,  Mr.  Constant  Southworth  and  Major  .losias  Winslow  by  vertue  of 
power  by  and  from  the  said  Court  derived  unto  them,  have  and  by  these 
presents  doe  bargaine,  sell,  grant,  allien,  allott,  confer,  and  make  over 
unto  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  George  Macye,  James  Walker. 
Joseph  Wilbore,  William  Harvey,  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Turner.  Henry 
Andrews,  John  Cobb,  Gorg  Hall,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Hall,  James  Leon- 
ard Sen.,  Nathaniel  Williams,  Thomas  Williams,  Nicholas  White  Senr. 
Nicholas  White  jun.,  Hezekiah  Hoare,  AUice  Deane,  Israel  Deane,  Rob- 
ert Grossman,  Shadrach  Wilbore,  Thomas  Caswell,  John  Macomber, 
John  Smith,  Edward  Rue,  John  Parker,  Samuel  Paule,  Thomas  Lin- 
koln  Senr.  Thomas  Harvey  the  elder,  Nathaniel  Thayer,  Thomas  Linkoln 
Jun.  Peter  Pitts,  John  Austine  Senr.  John  Richmond,  Samuell  Williams, 
Christopher  Thrasher,  Mistriss  Jane  Gilbert,  George  Watson,  Samuell 
Smith,  James  Burt,  Richard  Burt,  John  Tisdall  Jun.,  James  Phillips, 
Edward  Bubbitt,  John  Hatheway,  Jonathan  Briggs,  Encrease  Robinson, 
John  Bryant,  Thomas  Harvey  Jun.,  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Taun- 
ton, and  to  their  iieirs  forever,  a  certain  tract  of  land  lying  and  being  on 
the  northerly  syde  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  and  is  bounded  as  follows,  viz: 
Beginning  on  the  noithwest  att  the  bounds  of  tiie  lands  formerly  sold  by 
us  unto  the  Town  of  Rehoboth,  and  to  be  bounded  on  the  northerly  syde 
by  the  Massachusetts  line  until  it  comes  to  bear  with  the  western  bounds 
of  the  Town  of  Bridgewater  and  soe  from  the  said  Massachusetts  line  by 
•a  south  line  home  to  the  bounds  of  Taunton,  and  thence  by  a  westerly 
line  untill  it  meets  with  the  bounds  of  Rehoboth  abovesaid,  and  so  to 
follow  the  said  bounds  of  Rehoboth  untill  it  comes  unto  the  bounds  first 


APPENDIX.  2S5 

mentioned  upon  tlie  Massacliusetts  line;  all  tlie  lands  within  this  com- 
pass, excepting'  onley  a  small  parcel  granted  unto  John  Bundey,  and 
alsoe  a  jjrant  made  unto  Thomas  Briffgs,  tlie  son  of  (Element  Rritfgs,  to- 
oether  with  tlie  meddows,  woods,  waters,  and  other  henefitts,  privileges, 
emoluments,  piottits  and  ennuities  tliereto  appertaining  and  belonging. 
To  have  and  to  hold  to  them  and  their  heires  forever;  and  doe  alsoe 
hereby  acknowledge  tliat  wee  have  in  hand  received  the  full  sume  of  an 
hundred  pounds  in  full  payment  and  satisfaction  from  tlie  above  said 
Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane  and  George  Mayce,  and  the  rest  of  their 
parteuers  above  named,  respecting  tlie  premises,  and  doe  fully  acquit, 
release,  exonerate,  free  and  discharge  them  and  every  of  them,  theii' 
heires,  executors,  and  assigns,  of  and  concerning  the  premises;  for  true 
performance  whereof  the  above  named  Mr.  Thomas  Prence,  Major  Jos- 
ias  Winslow,  Captaine  Thomas  Southworth  and  Mr.  Constant  !South- 
worth  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  .and  seals  the  sixt  [or  first]  day  of 
June  Ann.  Dom.  one  thousand  six  hundred  sixty  and  eight.     I(i68. 

Signed,  sealed  and  )THOMAS  PRENCE,  and  a  [seal| 

delivered  in  the  presence        ) 

of  THOMAS  HINCKLEY,    )JOSIAS  WINSLOW  and  a  [seal] 

) 
NATHANIEL  BACON.      )THOMAS  SOUTHWORTH  and  a  [seal] 

) 

)CONSTANT  SOUTHWORTH    and  a  [seal] 

Mr.  (xeorge  Shove  his  name  is  hereunto  affix  in  the  margeant  as  a 
propriator  of  the  abovesaid  lands  by  order  of  the  Court  upon  testimony 
of  the  said  Mr.  Shove  his  title  in  the  Premises,  together  with  the  ac- 
knowledgement of  the  same  l>y  the  generality  of  the  propriators  con- 
cerned, and  notice  given  to  the  propriators  if  they  had  anything  to  object 
against  the  said  Mr.  Shove,  his  interest,  or  the  inserting  of  his  name  in 
the  deed,  they  should  jiresent  to  the  Court,  as  by  several  orders  sent 
them  may  appear,  and  none  did  appear  to  present  any  such  objection. 
The  8th  of  March,  1681:  (82.) 

(Ply.  Deeds,  Vol.  III.  page  lis.) 

The  letter  of  Mr.  Shove  whicli  led  to  the  addition  of  his  name 
a.s  a  grantee  in  the  above  deed  was  as  follows: 

"To  the  Right  Worshipful  Governor  and  Deputy-Governor, 
with  the  Worshipful  Assistants,  assembled  at  Plymouth,  June  1,  1080. 
RIGHT  HONORABLE  AND  WORSHIPFUL,— It  were  great  ingrat- 
itude to  God.  who  continueth  our  peace  and  maketh  us  so  happy  in  our 
rulers  in  this  wilderness,  unnecessarily  to  augment  their  burden  and 
trouble,     'i'his  consideration,  with  many  more  upon  the  heart  of   your 


286  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

petitioner,  hath  made  him  slow  to  complain,  as  willing  i-ather  to  suffer 
than  contend  for  his  right;  being  assured  that  God  knows  how  to  requite 
good  for  the  wrong  we  suffer  from  men.  But  now  (at  lea.st  to  his  own 
apprehension)  he  is  concluded  under  a  necessity  to  make  your  authority 
his  refuge.  Be  pleased,  therefoi-e,  to  take  cognizance  of  his  gi-ievance, 
presented  to  your  view  as  followeth : — 

Some  of  the  proprietoi's  of  the  township  of  Taunton,  in  this  Colony, 
purchasing  a  certain  parcel  of  land,  lying  between  Taunton's  north  line 
and  the  south  line  of  Massachusetts  Colony  for  themselves  and  their 
associates,  your  petitioner  (who  is  also  a  proprietor  in  the  said  Taun- 
ton) essayed  to  join  with  them  in  their  purchase  of  the  said  lands;  upon 
which  at  the  motion  of  some  of  themselves,  it  was  agreed  in  a  conven- 
tion of  the  said  proprietors  that  his  proportion  of  charge  in  the  said 
purchase  should  be  defrayed  amongst  them :  which  he,  being  informed 
of  (though  more  than  he  ever  sought)  accepted  as  their  kindness,  and 
upon  that  account,  disbursed  not  at  the  times  of  payment  as  othei-s  did; 
and  a  considerable  time  passing  between  the  time  of  the  purchase  and 
the  making  of  the  deed  they  now  hold  the  said  lands  by, — (viz)  two  years 
or  thereabouts, — he  never  had  the  least  intimation  that  his  interest  in 
the  said  lands  was  questioned.  Nevertheless,  when  this  deed  was 
obtained,  in  which  the  names  of  all  the  proprietors  concerned  ought  to 
to  have  been  expressed,  his  name,  and  his  only,  was  omitted;  whereby 
that  which  he  interpreted  as  a  kindness  he  perceived  to  be  managed  to 
the  contrary,  and  was  in  danger  to  prove  a  considerable  damage.  And 
after  long  patience  exercised,  and  divers  overtures  made  by  him  (som® 
whereof  being  in  writing  are  extant)  to  the  said  proprietors,  in  which 
he  claimed  his  interest  in  the  said  lands  (which  yet  lie  in  community  not 
divided)  the  most  of  the  said  proprietors,  being  sensible  how  injurious 
it  would  be  to  exclude  him  in  such  a  manner,  were  so  ingenuous  as  to 
offer  him  a  small  script,  with  their  several  names  subscribed  thereto, 
wherein  they  acknowledge  your  petitioner's  right,  and  that  his  name 
ought  to  have  been  put  into  the  deed,  &c.,  as  may  appear  upon  view  of 
the  said  script.  But  some  persons  concerned  appear  against  it  and  deny 
his  interest;  making  non-payment  (though  not  by  his  default)  their 
advantage  to  deprive  him  of  his  just  right. 

In  tliis  your  petitioner  l)rieHy  (yet  he  trusts  you  will  find  faithfully) 
lias  presented  his  case  before  you;  to  whose  sentence  and  judgment  he 
freely  subjects  it,  requesting  your  favorable  construction  of  this  his  ad- 
dress, who  most  unwillingly  and  of  constraint  occasions  you  such 
trouble,  is  bound  incessantly  to  pray  for  you,  and  subscribeth  him- 
self, worthy  i)atriots, 

Your  servant  in  everything  in  the  Lord, 

CKOIIGE  STTOVE. 

(Mass.  Ilist,  Soc'.  Coll.  4th  Scries,  Vol.   ^^  j).  .JO.) 


APPENDIX.  287 

The  petition  of  Mr.  Shove  led  to  the  following  action  by  the 
Court;  for  at  a  General  Court  held  at  Plymouth,  Oct.  28,  1618,  it 
was  ordered  as  follows : 

"WHEREAS  it  did  appeer  to  the  Court  liolden  att  Plymouth  in 
July,  1801,  that  Mr.  George  Shoue,  of  Taunton,  had  an  interest  in  a 
tract  of  land  att  Taunton,  the  North  Purchase;  and  al  tho,  by  what 
ouer  sight  so  euer,  his  name  was  left  out  of  the  deed  of  the  said  land, 
the  generality  of  the  said  propriators  doe  owne  the  said  Mr.  Shoue  to 
haue  an  interest  with  themselues,  and  did  petition  to  the  Court  that  his 
name  might  be  inserted  in  the  said  deed,  and  diuers  testimonies  did  ap- 
peer wherby  it  was  euident  to  the  Court  that  Mr.  Shoue  ought  to  haue 
his  name  entered  in  the  said  deed,  and  therefore  directed  an  order  to  the 
clarke  of  the  said  propriators  to  call  them  tegether,  and  giue  them 
notice,  that  if  they  had  any  thinge  to  object  against  Mr.  Shoue  why  his 
name  should  not  be  entered  in  the  said  deed,  that  they  appeer  att  this 
psent  Court  to  render  theire  reasons  if  they  hade  any,  otherwise  the 
Court  would  see  cause  to  enter  or  affix  his  name  to  the  same  deed,  which 
the  said  clarke  attests  hee  hath  don;  and  wheras  notwithstanding  none 
doe  appeer  to  oppose  or  object  why  Mr.  Shoue  should  not  haue  his  name 
entered,  and  the  deed  not  being  att  Court,  the  Court  doth  heerby  order 
the  clarke  of  the  said  propriators  to  giue  notice  to  the  said  propriators 
that  hee  is  ordered  by  the  Court  to  produce  the  deed  of  the  said  tract  of 
land  the  next  Court,  which  wilbe  in  March,  1682,  that  then  the  Secretary 
may  enter  Mr.  Shoues  name,  or  affix  it  to  the  said  deed,  vnlesse  any  of 
the  said  propriators  then  shew  reason  to  the  contrary.  (Ply.  Col.  Rec. 
Vol.  VI.  Page  73.)  1681. 

In  March,  1682,  therefore  the  entry  of  Mr.  Shove's  interest 
was  made  on  the  deed,  as  appears  in  the  endorsement  thereon 
before  stated. 

Mr.  Blake's  article  then  proceeds  to  say: 

"As  signs  of  settlement  in  the  purchased  territory  appeared,  the 
Punkoapags  of  Massachusetts  raised  a  claim  of  ownership  through 
Charles  Josias,  a  son  of  Wamputuck  and  grandson  of  Chickatabut,  who 
lived  at  Neponset,  now  Stoughton.  It  shows  the  honest  purpose  of  the 
proprietors  that  they  voted  Feb.  24,  U58(j,  "  To  levy  and  to  rais  sixteen 
pence  in  money  en  each  share  in  said  purchase  to  pay  Josiah,  the  Indian 
Sachem  for  a  deed  they  have  procured  of  him,  and  it  is  to  be  paid  in  to 
Thomas  Leonard  by  the  l(i  day  of  March  next."  This  assessment 
amounted  to  :;  pounds,  lils,   (id." 


288  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

This  additional  deed  from  .losiah,  in  1(586  seems  to  have  originated 
in  this  way — There  being  dispute  between  Taunton  on  tlie  one  side,  and 
Bridgewater  and  Middleborough  on  the  other  as  to  the  true  eastern  line 
of  Taunton,  the  agents  of  those  towns  had  agreed  upon  a  line  between 
them  which  the  Indians  claimed  included  a  strip  of  land  not  within  the 
original  purchase  of  Taunton,  and  which  was  a  part  of  the  Titicut  lands 
still  belonging  to  them,  therefore  the  sum  abtive  mentioned  was  raised 
to  extinguish  the  right  to  (his  strqy,  and  they  gave  a  quitclaim  deed  of 
which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

"To  all  Christian  People  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Josiah, 
otherwise  called  Charles,  an  Indian  Sachem  living  at  Mattakesett  in  ye 
Collony  of  New  Plymouth  A  son  of  Josiah,  deceased  who  was  an  Indian 
Sachem,  and  Peter  it  David  Hunter  (both  Indians  of  Titticnt,  an  Indian 
Plantation  in  New  Plimouth  Collony)  send  greeting,  &c. 

Know  yee,  that  whereas  it  doth  appeare  to  ye  said  Josiah  &  Peter  & 
David,  both  by  Indian  &  English  testimonyes  that  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Poole 
formerly  of  Taunton  in  ye  Government  of  New  Plimouth  aforesaid  did, 
for  and  in  behalf  of  the  said  Town  of  Taunton  purchase  ye  lands  of  Titti- 
cutt  in  ye  year  one  thousand  six  hundred  thirty  A:  seven,  and  that  ye 
right  owners  of  the  said  lands  did  then  make  sale  thereof  to  ye  said  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Poole  as  abovesaid  cV:  received  pay  of  her  for  itt,  and  those  In- 
dians or  Indian  Sachems  that  formerly  were  ye  right  owners  of  those 
lands  at  said  Titticutt  being  those  that  were  ye  Predecessors  of  ye  said 
Josiah,  alias  Charles  iXr  Peter  &  David, 

Know  yee  therefore,  that  ye  said  Josiah,  alias  Charles  &  ye  said 
Peter  and  ye  said  David,  doe,  by  these  presents  so  farr  owne,  acknowl- 
edge, rattifye  «&  contirme  ye  abovesaid  sale  of  those  lands  for  ye  Towne 
of  Taunton  aforesaid,  that  they  so  by  these  presents  on  ye  aforesaid  con- 
siderations give,  grant,  make  over,  sell,  contirme  and  deliver  unto 
Thomas  Leonard,  John  Richmond,  William  Witherell  &  John  Hathaway 
(all  of  Taunton  abovesaid  iV  agents  for  ye  said  Towne)  for  ye  only 
use,  benetitt,  ])i'otltt  i&  behoof e  of  ye  ])roprietated  inhabitants  of  said 
Taunton  &  such  proprietors  as  are  not  inhabitants  and  to  their  heires  & 
assignes  forever,  so  much  of  i/f  lands  of  all  sortes,  fi>rmprly  called  Titticutt 
lands,  as  are  &  do  lye  within  the  Township  of  said  Taunton  by  vertue  of 
Aureenicnts  made  between  ye  ai/ents  of  said  Taunton  <fe  the  Agents  of 
Bridijewater  on  ye  Northwest erdly  side  of  Titticutt  Hirer  and  between  ye 
Ayents  of  said  Taunton  <£•  ye  Agents  of  Middlebury  on  ye  Southeasterdly 
side  of  saitl  River.  And  by  these  presents  ye  said  Josiah  alias  Charles  it 
Peter  &  David  being  by  ye  abovesaid  testimonyes  convinced  that  their 
predecessors  did  sell  ye  above-said  lands  to  ye  Proprietors  of  Taunton  & 
Received  a  valluable  summe  as  full  content  and  payment  for  ye  said  lands 


APPENDIX.  289 

doe  by  these  presents  covenant  and  promise  to  tVr  with  ye  said  Thomas 
Leonard,  John  Richmond,  William  Witherell  cV:  John  Hathaway  (the 
aji'ents  of  ye  said  Tannton,)  that  it  shall  be  lawful  and  free  forevere  here- 
after for  ye  said  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Richmond,  William  Witherell. 
and  John  Hathaway,  &  ye  rest  of  ye  Proprietors  of  said  Taunton  et  their 
heires  ct  assi<;nes  to  have  it  to  hold  ye  said  Lands  so  much  as  falls  ct 
lyetli  within  ye  Township  of  said  Taunton  as  abovesaid  by  vertue  of  ye 
abovesaid  Agreements  as  by  record  doth  or  may  appear  with  all  ye  rights, 
priviledges  and  appurtenances  witliin  and  upon  ye  said  lands  bounded  as 
above-said.  And  ye  said  Josiali  alias  Charles  &  David  cV:  Peter  doe  by 
tliese  presents  freely,  fully,  absolutely  &  clearly  promise,  coveneant  it- 
grant  to  it  with  ye  said  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Richmond,  William  With- 
erell &  John  ILatheway  that  it  shall  be  free  and  lawfull  for  them  and  ye 
rest  of  the  Proprietors  of  said  Taunton  it  their  heires  it  assignes  forever 
hereafter,  to  have,  hold  occujiy  and  peaceably  to  enjoy  ye  aforesaid  lands 
it  premises  (that  are  &  lye  within  ye  said  Township  of  Taunton  as  afore- 
said) without  any  trouble,  molestation  or  suites  in  Law  or  any  incum- 
brance that  may  arise  by,  from  or  under  them,  ye  said  Josiah  alias 
Charles  &  Peter  it  David  or  any  or  either  of  them  or  any  or  either  of 
their  heirs,  executors,  administs.  or  assigns  forever,  or  any  other  person 
that  may  lay  any  lawfull  claims  thereunto  or  of  any  part  or  parcel  there- 
of forever. 

And  moreover  the  said  Jc)siah  alias  C  harles  and  Peter  it  David  doe 
hereby  give  ye  said  Thomas  Leonard  it  John  Richmond  it  William  With- 
erell &  John  Hathaway  free  liberty  &  power  in  any  of  his  Majestyes 
Courts  of  Record. 

And  to  these  premises  the  said  Josiah  alias  Charles  &  Peter  &  David 
have  sett  their  hands  &  seals  the  twentyeth  day  of  July  in  ye  yeare  of 
our  Lord  God,  one  thousand  six  hundred  eighty  &  six,  IttSO.  The  words 
in  ye  yeare  one  thousand  six  hundred  &  thirty  seven  between  ye  fifth  & 
sixth  lines,  were  before  the  signing,  sealing  and  delivering  of  these 
presents. 

The  marke  of     /^    Josiah  [ISigillumJ 

The  marke  of     p    Peter  [SigillumJ 

The  marke  of     D    David  [Sigillum] 

Hunter. 
Signed.  Sealed  &  delivered  in  ye  presence  of 
Joseph  Crosman, 
Benjamin  Leonard, 
The  marke  of    j    John  Cobb  jun.. 
Foelix  Indian    f    CG    bis  marke. 
Jabez     H     Hackitt. 
his  marke. 


290  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

MeinoraiKluni,  tlie  witnin  written  Josiali  &  David  &  Peter,  did  at  ye 
sealino'  <>f  these  presents  reserve  and  except  that  land  called  f 'harles  his 
feild  on  ye  westward  side  of  Tittiontt  River,  that  is  that  which  Charles  «t 
Obediah  have  now  within  fence,  they  allso  excpt.  and  reserved  any  land 
in  ye  within  Taunton  Bounds  on  ye  Enstward  of  Trout  brooke  where  it 
conies  into  ye  <;reat  River. 

Witness  .loseph  f'rosman,  Benjamin  Leonard.  .lolm  Tobb.  junior,  j 
liis  niarke.  Jabez  Ilackitt,  H  ''i'*  niarke  on  ye  twentyeth  day  of  .Iidy  KiStJ 
ye  witliin  written  witnesses,  viz:  Joseph  C'rosnian,  Benjamin  Leonard. 
John  Cobb,  Junr..  and  Jabez  Hackitt,  tooke  oath  thattliey  saw  ye  witliin 
written  Josiah  &  Peter  &  David  si<>iie.  scale  &  deliver  tliis  within  instru- 
ment as  their  .\ct  &  deed  before  nie. 

THOMAS  LEONARD,  As.sociate. 
Recorded  i)rimo  December.  KISC.  pi-.  STEPITEX  BrHTOX,  Recorder. 

This  Josiah,  the  first  signer  of  the  above  deed,  was  a  great 
grandson  of  Chickatabut,  and  probably  owned  no  more  lands  in 
this  vicinity,  and  no  more  right  in  the  original  Taunton  purchase 
than  his  ancestor  had.  But  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that 
the  domain  of  (."hickatabut  did  not  include  any  of  the  Tavuiton 
lands,  and  extended  only  from  •' Nishamagoguanett,  near  Duxbury 
mill,  to  Teghacut,  f/ear  Taunton."  See  the  afifinnation  of  five  In- 
dians, made  the  ''ist  of  4th  month,  1650,"  and  recorded  in  2  Ply. 
Col.  Rec.  p.  157,  from  which  the  above  language  is  quoted. 

The  regard  of  our  ancestors  for  the  Indian  title  to  lands  which 
they  desired  to  obtain  from  the  General  Court,  however  vague  and 
indefinite  that  title  may  have  been,  is  well  illustrated  by  a  letter 
of  Gov.  Winslow,  dated  May  i,  1676,  in  which  he  writes: 

"  I  think  1  can  clearly  say  that  before  these  present  troubles  broke 
out,  the  English  did  not  possess  one  foot  of  jiround  in  this  Cohmy  but 
what  was  fairly  ol>tained  by  honest  purchases  of  the  Indian  proprietors. 
We  first  made  a  law  that  none  should  buy  or  receive  by  t;ift  any  land  of 
the  Indians  without  knowledge  of  the  Court."  (See  Thacher's  History 
of  Plymouth  p.  U)S:  also  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  XL  p.  41.  129.  IS:',.  IS.').) 

In  1689,  Major  William  P.radford  set  up  a  claim  or  interest  in 
all  the  territory  about  here,  and  on  July  9th,  1689  made  a  deed  to 
the  purchasers  of  the  North  Purchase;  the  original  of  which  now 
hangs  on  the  walls  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  in  Taun- 
ton, a  copy  of  which  with  the  original  spelling  is  as  follows: 


APPENDIX.  291 

'I'o  all  nnto  whom  those  juvsints  shall  coine.  Oreetiiif;':  whereas  the 
lloiiouiable  the  Council  Estahlished  at  I'lyinouth  in  the  f'otinty  of  Devon 
for  the  Plantin<>.  Kuleinu.  ()r(lerin<;  and  (ionernin<;  of  New  Kn.nland,  in 
America.  By  vei'tue  and  Authority  of  letters  Patents,  under  the  (Jreat 
Scale  of  England,  from  our  Late  Soveraione  Lord  Kiny  James  the  lirst. 
l)earin<;  Date  at  Westminster  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  said  Majesties 
Keioiie  of  Enoland  &  I.  for  and  in  consideration  that  william  Bradfoid 
Escj.  and  his  Asotiats  had  at  their  owne  proper  cost  and  charges  I'lanted 
and  Ldiahited  a  towne  called  by  the  name  of  New  PlinKuith  in  New  Eng- 
land aforesaid.  And  for  their  better  encouragmet.  to  proceed  in  soe  pious 
a  woik  (illegible)  tending  to  the  proi)Ogation  of  Ifeligion  and 

the  great  incouragment  of  Trade  to  his  >fajesties  Kealmes  and  advanc- 
ment  to  the  Publick,  Plantaticm,  the  said  Council  by  their  Patent  or  grant, 
under  their  common  Seale  Signed,  by  the  Bight  ironourable  Bobert  Earle 
of  Warwick,  President  of  said  Council,  bearing  Date,  the  thirteenth  day 
of  January  in  the  fifth  year  of  the  Beigne  of  our  Late  Souvereigne  Lord 
King  Charles  the  first,  Annoq  Dom  ]()2n  did  give  grant  infeoffe  assigne 
and  contirme  unto  the  said  william  Bradford  his  heirs  Asotiates  and  as- 
signes  for  ever,  all  that  part  of  New  England  in  America  aforesaid,  and 
Tract,  or  tracts  of  Land  that  lye  within  or  betwene  a  certaine  ri volet  or 
Bundlett  there  eomonly  caled  Chasset  alias  Conihasset  towards  the  North, 
and  the  River  commonly  called  Narraganset  Biver  towards  the  South, 
and  the  great  westerne  Ocean  towards  the  East,  and  between  and  within 
a  straight  line  Directly  extending  up  into  the  maine  Land  towards  the 
west  from  the  mouth  of  the  said  Biver,  called  Narraganset  Biver.  to  the 
utmost  limits  or  Bounds  of  a  country  or  place  in  New  England  commonly 
called  Pokanocket  alias  Sowamset  westward,  and  another  like  straight 
line  extending  itselfe.  directly  from  the  mouth  of  the  said  PJiver,  Cohasset 
alias  Conihasset  towards  the  west.  So  far  up  into  the  mairie  Land  west- 
ward as  the  utmost  limits  of  the  said  place  or  Country  eomonly  called 
Pokanocut  alias  Sawomset  Do  extend  &ac  And  all  lands,  Bivers,  waters 
Havens  &c  Sittuate  lying  and  being,  or  arising  within  or  betwene  the 
said  limits  and  bounds  or  any  of  them.  And  thereof  was  jiut  into  jjeace- 
able  and  quiet  Possession  as  in  and  (by)  the  said  grant  and  Indorsment 
thereon  Beferente  thereto  being  had  will  more  fnlly  and  at  large  appeare: 
and  whereas  the  said  william  Bradford  with  the  advice  of  his  asotiats,  in 
the  yeare  of  our  Lord  God  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  fourety  did 
grant  unto,  M'ss  Elizabeth  Poole  and  mi'  Nicholas  Street  and  to  such 
others  as  they  should  Assotiat  to  themselves,  a  tract  of  Land  for  a  Plan- 
tation or  Township,  formerly  called  by  natives  Cohannet  upwards  of 
fouerty  yeares  seme  settled  and  Planted.  Now  called  and  knowne  by  the 
name  of  Taunton,  Lying  in  the  County  of  Bristol  in  New  England  afore- 
said [And  whereas  alsoe  the  proprietors  of  said  Town  of  Taunton  have 
seme  obtained  divers  inlargments  and  additions  from  tlie  (;inirall  Coiirr 


292  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

at  Plimouth  [:the  members  whereof  where  the  Assotiats  of  my  said  Hon- 
oured father]  and  from  their  nei.yhboiiring  Townes,  by  agreements  with 
them,  with  the  alowance  of  said  Assotiats,  as  appears  by  records,  Al 
which  being  percalls  of  the  lands  contained  within  the  Limits  and  Bound- 
erys  exspresed  in  the  afore  resighted  Patent  or  grant  from  the  Councell 
Established  at  Plimouth  in  the  County  of  Devon,  [for  tlie  Plantin  Ruel- 
ing  ordering  and  Gouering  of  New  England  in  America]  and  to  the  said 
William  Bradford  his  heirs  asotiats  and  asignes]  together  with  power 
duly  to  dispose  of  said  lands  for  the  ends  aforesaid  to  such  as  should  be 
admitted  inhabitants  and  proprietors  with  them  in  said  Towne  of  Taun- 
ton, and  such  other  priviledges  and  imunities  tis  are  usialy  granted  to 
the  inhabitants  and  proprietors  of  other  Townes,  within  this  his  Majes- 
ties most  anciant  Collony  of  New  Plimouth  in  New  England  aforesaid, 
for  the  more  perpctluer  making  and  better  confirmation  whereof.  Now 
know  yee  that  I  william  Bradford  of  New  Plimouth  in  the  (bounty  of  Pli- 
mouth in  the  Colony  of  New  Plimouth  in  New  England  aforesaid,  Son 
and  heire  of  the  above  named  william  Bradford  Esqr :  Deceased,  as  well 
in  performance  of  the  true  intente  and  meaning  of  the  said  william  Brad- 
ford my  father  in  and  by  the  said  grant,  and  for  the  ends  above  men- 
tioned, and  for  Divers  other  good  causes  and  considerations,  we  at  this 
time  especially  moveing,  have  granted,  remised,  realeased.  and  for  ever 
quitt  claimed,  and  by  these  presints  for  me  and  my  heirs,  doe  grant,  re- 
mise, release  and  for  ever  quitt  claim  unto:  nv  John  Poole,  m'"  Samuell 
Danforth,  Richard  williams,  waiter  Deane,  Garge  Macey,  Hezekiah 
Hoar,  william  Harvey,  Henry  Andrews,  John  Deane,  Giles  Gilbert, 
James  Walker  Senior,  Shadrach  wilbore,  Phillij)  King  &  Joseph  wilbore, 
John  Cob,  John  Hall  Petter  Pitts,  Samuell  williams,  Nathaniell  will- 
iams, Joseph  williams,  Samuell  Hall  the  son  of  Samuell  Hall  Deceased, 
Joseph  Hall,  Edward  Rews  Exexitrixe,  Isack  Negus,  Increase  Robinson, 
Thomas  Farwell,  Thomas  Caswell  Senior,  James  Leonard  Junior,  John 
Smith  Senior,  James  Philips,  John  Richmond,  william  Paul],  Jonah 
Austin,  william  withrell  Senior,  william  withrell  Jun:  John  withrell, 
Robert  Crosman  Jun:  John  Briant,  Richard  Stephens,  Mary  Street, 
Jo.seph  willis,  Eliazer  Gilbert,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Malachi  Holloway,  John 
Smith  Jun:  Samuell  Smith,  James  Burt,  the  Asignes  of  Richard  Burt 
Deceased,  James  Tisdill,  John  Tisdill,  Joseph  Tisdill,  James  Walker 
Jun;  Petter  walker,  Thomas  Harvey  Jun:  John  Crosman,  Samuell 
Thrasher,  John  Hathway,  Isack  Deane,  Joseph  Leonard,  John  wood- 
ward, John  Macomber  Jun:  Joseph  Staple,  Samuell  Deane,  Samuell 
Stasie,  John  Hodges,  the  sons  of  Aron  Knap  Deceased,  Ileniry  Hodges, 
Richard  Godfree  Sen:  Thomas  Lincon  Sen:  John  Lincon,  Samuell  Lin- 
con,  George  Watsons  Asignes,  Robert  Crosman  Sen:  Robert  Thornton, 
James  Letmard  Sen:  John  Turner,  Thomas  Leonard,  Edward  Bobit, 
Elckanah  Bobit.   Samuell   Holloway,    Jonathan  Brigs,   Nicholas   White 


APPENDIX.  293 

Sen:  mi'  George  Shoves  Asifjncs,  Gcoif^o  Goodinft-  &  John  Edy  |who  are 
such  proprietois  wlio  in  said  Taunton  arc  called  and  owned  purchasers 
of  the  old  Township,  some  havcinff  two  or  three  purchase  rij^hts,  some 
one  purchase  riftht,  and  some  but  halfe  a  purcliase  right,  and  some  less: 
[and  tmto]  Richard  williams,  waiter  Deane,  George  Macey,  James  Walk- 
er, Joseph  wilbore,  william  Harvey,  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Turner, 
Heniry  Andrews,  John  Cob,  George  Hall,  John  Hall,  Samuell  Hall, 
James  Leonard  Sen:  Nathauiell  williams,  Thomas  williams,  Nicholas 
whit  Sen,  Nicholas  whit  Jun:  Hezakiah  Hoar,  Allice  Deane,  Israel 
Deane,  Robert  Crosman,  Shadrach  wilbore,  Thomas  Caswell,  John  Ma- 
comber,  John  Smith,  Edward  Rew,  John  Paiker,  Samuell  Paul,  Thomas 
Lincon  Sen:  Thomas  Harvey  the  elder,  Nathaniell  Thayer,  Thomas  Lin- 
con  Jun:  Fetter  Pitts,  Jonah  Austin  Sen:  John  Richmond,  Samuell  wil- 
liams, Christopher  Thrasher,  m's  Jane  Gilbert,  George  watson,  Samuell 
Smith,  James  Burt,  Richard  Burt,  John  TisdilSen:  John  TisdilJun: 
James  Philips,  Edward  Bobit,  John  Hathway,  Jonathan  Brigs,  Increase 
Robinson,  John  Briant,  Thomas  Harvey  Jun  &  m''  (George  Shove  |Some 
of  the  above  said  properietors  in  the  said  Towne  of  Tanton  and  all  pio- 
perietors  in  the  tract  of  land,  called  the  North  purchase,  which  shall 
hereafter  be  cxspresed  in  this  Instrument,  and  as  appears  by  Deed  from 
the  Colonys  Agents,  the  Associats  of  my  said  Hounoured  Father,  Dated 
June  the  six  one  thousand  six  hundred  sixty  eight,  upon  record,  and 
unto)  James  walker,  John  Richmond,  william  Brenton  Esq^:,  List: 
(ieorge  M:vcey,  Richard  williams.  waiter  Deane,  william  Harvey,  m"" 
(korge  Shove,  Heniry  Andrews,  Giles  Gilbert,  Hezekiah  Hoar,  John 
Hall,  John  Macomber  Sen:  James  Philips,  John  Hathway,  John  Deane. 
Joseph  wilbore,  Aron  Knap,  Petter  Pitts,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Richard  Burt, 
John  Tisdil  Sen:  Cristipher  Thrasher,  John  Poole,  Edward  Bobit,  Ed- 
ward Rew,  Thomas  Caswell,  william  withrell,  Heniry  Andrews  Jun: 
Samuell  Pitts,  Samuell  williams,  Nicholas  whit  Sen:  Samuell  Hall,  James 
Leonard  Senior  Thomas  Leonard,  Nathaniel  williams,  Robert  Thornton. 
Thomas  Deane,  Joseph  williams,  John  Tisdill  Jun:  James  Tisdill,  Israel 
Deane,  Jonathan  Brigs,  Thomas  Lincon  Sen:  Thomas  Lincon  Jun:  John 
Turner,  Frances  Smith,  James  Burt,  Jonah  Austin  Sen;  George  waLson, 
Richard  Stasie,  John  Hodges.  Sh.idrach  wilbore,  John  Smith  Sen: 
Tiiomas  Harvey  Sen:  Samuell  Smith,  Robert  Crosman  Sen:  william  Paul, 
Samuell  Ilolloway,  Malachi  Holloway,  Ester  Golup,  Joseph  Hall,  Mary 
Stiect,  Nathaniel  Thayer,  Increase  Robinson,  Thomas  Harvey  Jun: 
Isack  Deane,  Ezra  Deane,  James  walker  Jun:  Petter  walker,  Israeli 
Thrasher,  Samuell  Macey,  Nicholas  whit  Jun;  Jarit  Talbut,  James  Leon- 
ard Jun,  John  Lincon,  Richard  Stephens,  Thomas  williams,  william 
withrell,  Jun:  Richaid  Brigs,  John  Smith  Jun,  Thomas  Amsbery,  John 
Macomber  Jun  &  Joseph  willis  [who  are  properietors  of  the  Tract  of 
land,  called   the  South   Purchas.  mentioned  alsoe  in  this  Instrument,  as 


294  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

iippcars  by  Deeds  and  Court  records  [and  unto]  tlie  Asignes  of  niiGeorj^e 
Shove,  James  walker  Sen:  James  Tisdill,  waiter  Dcane,  william  Harvey. 
Richard  williams,  and  william  Paul  [who  are  the  properietors  of  Asonet 
neck,  mentioned  alsoe  in  this  Instrument  as  appers  by  their  Deeds  Re- 
spectinly  which  they  received  of  m'"  Constant  Southworth,  the  Collonies 
Tresurer  which  deeds  are  recorded  in  the  Court  records]  And  to  their 
heirs  and  asi^nes  forever  in  the  behalfe,  and  to  the  use  of  themselves 
and  others  the  allowed  inhabitants  and  properietors  of  said  Towne  of 
Taunton,  in  their  and  every  of  their,  full  and  peaceable  possession,  and 
Scisen,  now  being  acording  to  their  and  every  of  their  comon  and  geni- 
rall  and  Respective  Interest  and  to  their  and  every  of  their  heirs  and 
asio'ues  for  ever,  in  all  such  estate  right  title  interest  possession  and  de- 
mand what  soever,  which  I  the  said  william  Bradford,  had  now  have  or 
ought  to  have  of  in  or  to  all,  or  singular  the  messuages  lands  Teniments 
growndes:  soiles,  matters,  rivers.  Havens,  creeks,  ports,  fishings,  herid- 
itaments,  Royaltyes,  minerals,  projects  priviledges  and  Comodities  what- 
soever. Scituate  Lying  and  being,  arising,  hapning  or  acrueing,  or  which 
shall  arise,  happen,  or  acrne,  in  or  within  the  limits  and  boundes  of  said 
Township  of  Taunton,  and  alsoe  within  that  Tract  of  land,  comonly 
calleil  and  knowne  in  said  Taunton  by  the  name  of  the  north  Purchas. 
both  said,  Towneship,  and  said  north  Purchas  as  they,  have  both  been, 
anciantly  stated  and  set  forth,  and  are  discribed.  and  bcuuided  as  follow- 
eth  (the  Township  Takin  in  all  Asonet  neck  which  belongs  to  some 
particular  men  as  it  above  exspresed,  Takin  in  alsoe  all  the  meadow  lands, 
there  upon  and  about  it,  and  on  the  other  side  of  Asonit  b;tye,  and  from 
the  northerly  end  of  said  neck,  to  run  fouer  miles  East  and  by  South  by 
Free  Towne  Lyine,  to  a  forked  tree  standing  close  by  Asonit  River,  with 
stones  laying  about  it,  and  from  said  tree,  to  run  north  and  by  East  to  a 
black  oake  marked  with  the  letter  M:  on  the  Southerly  side  and  tlie 
letter  T  on  the  norther  side,  by  the  path  side,  leadin  from  Asonit  to 
Middlcberey,  and  from  said  oake,  to  run  by  the  path  to  Baiting  Brook 
soe  called,  to  a  great  marked  white  oake,  by  the  brooke  and  from  said 
wliite  oake  to  run  Northerly  on  a  line,  Betwene  Taunton  and  MiddJc- 
bery,  and  soe  running  along  by  some  Indians  lands  at  Titicut,  and  soe  to 
Taunton  Great  River  at  Titicut  and  over  said  River  upon  a  line  agreed 
on,  betwene  Taunton  and  Brcdgwater  Agents,  To  a  heap  of  stones  on 
Rockie  plaine  |soe  called  |  on  tlie  north  westward  side  of  the  Rhode  that 
leads  from  Taunton  to  Brcdgwater,  and  from  said  hea])  of  stones,  upon  ;i, 
line,  to  the  Southerly  end  of  Nuncketetest  pond  to  a  great  white  onke 
tree,  and  from  thence  North  wcest  to  a  great  stake  with  a  heap  of  stones 
about  it,  and  from  said  stake  on  a  north  line,  until  it  mcete  with  an 
East  and  by  South  Line,  which  runs  Betwene  said  Towneship  of  Taun- 
ton, and  the  above  said  North  Purchas,  [and  from  the  Southermost  point 
of  Asonit  neck,  to  run  over  Taunton  Great  River  west  and  by  North,  to 


APPENDIX.  295 

Uic  nioiitli  of  a  Cove  called  liroad  Cove,  anrl  soe  Runiiinj;  alonj;  by  tlie 
Lower  side  of  said  Cove,  as  to  take  in  all  tlie  meaddowes,  unto  a  lieape 
of  stones  near  the  head  of  said  Cove,  and  from  thence  to  nm  weest  and 
by  N'oith  fouer  miles,  and  from  the  end  of  said  fouer  miles  to  run  thence 
north  and  by  East,  untill  it  extends  as  fare  as  to  tlie  end,  of  the  fouer 
miles,  that  did  run  from  the  Two  marked  trees,  near  the  three  mile 
Uiver,  which  was  the  first  line  of  the  Township  first  j^rant  [so  takinfj  in 
the  tract  of  Land  called,  the  South  Purchas  which  three  mile  River,  and 
then  the  three  mile  River,  is  the  boundes,  betwene  the  old  Township, 
and  the  South  Purchace,  until  it  come  to  the  Great  River,  which  is  the 
bounds  alsoe,  of  said  South  Purchase  downe  to  Broad  Cove  as  above 
said,  as  ai)peaies  by  Deeds,  and  Court  Records  as  above  said|  and  from 
the  Exstent  of  the  last  mentioned  fouer  miles,  the  old  towne  line,  to  Run 
cijiht  miles;  North  and  by  weest,  and  from  the  end  of  the  said  eijjht 
miles  to  run  upon  an  East  and  by  South  line,  untill  it  meet  with  the 
afore  said  bounds,  between  Taunton  and  Bred<; water,  and  the  aforesaid 
north  Purchfise,  And  the  bounds  of  the  said  North  Purcha.se  are  as  Fol- 
lowcth.  Beoinin^'  on  the  North  and  by  weest,  at  the  bounds  of  the  Lands 
belonging  to  the  Towne  of  Rehoboth,  and  to  be  bounded  on  the  North- 
erly side  by  the  Masachaset  Line  untill  it  come  to  beare  with  the 
westerne  bounds  of  the  Towne  of  Bredgwater,  and  soe  from  the  Masa- 
chuset  line,  to  the  boundes  of  Taunton  Towne  Ship,  and  thence  by  a 
weesterly  line,  untill  it  meet  with  the  the  bounds  of  Rehoboth  above 
said,  and  soe  to  follow  the  said  bounds  of  Rehoboth,  untill  it  cometh  to 
the  bounds,  first  mentioned  upon  the  Masachuset  line,  the  proprietie  of 
of  which  said  North  Purchase  belongeth  only  to  some  of  the  men,  whose 
names  are  above  named,  as  appeares  by  Deed  as  above  said,  Soe  that  is 
to  say.  that  I  the  said  william  Bradford  nor  my  heirs  from  hence  forth 
shall  or  may  have  or  Clainie  any  right  title  estate  interest  or  demand  of 
in  or  to  the  .said  Premises,  or  any  part  of  them,  but  thereof  shall  for 
ever  here  after  be  barred  and  exscinded  by  these  presents,  know  yee 
further  alsoe,  that  I  the  said  william  Bradford  for  the  ends  and  Consid- 
erations aforesaid  have  approved,  and  by  these  presents,  doe  for  me  and 
my  heirs,  soe  much  as  in  me  lieth  Ratifie  and  confirme,  unto  the  said, 
mr  John  Poole,  mr  Samuell  Danforth,  Richard  williams.  James  walker 
Senor,  william  Paull.  and  John  Tisdill,  and  to  all  the  rest  above  named, 
and  to  other  the  allowed  Inhabitants  of  said  Towne  of  Taunton,  and  to 
the  proprietors  of  the  North  Purchase  aforesaid  to  their,  and  every  of 
their  full  and  peaceable  possession  and  Seisen,  and  according  to  their 
and  every  of  their  respective  Intrest  in  each  tract  of  land,  and  to  their 
and  every  of  their  heirs  and  Asignes  for  ever,  all  and  Singular,  the  afore 
said  lands,  and  other  the  premises,  and  their  and  every  of  their,  appcr- 
tinances  within  the  said  boundes  and  limits,  according  to  their,  and 
every  and  each  of  their,  eomon  or  perticular.  severall  and  i{espective  in- 


296        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

trest  ill  the  said  Premises,  or  any  part  or  percall  thereof,  To  Have  and 
TO  Hold  to  the  said  mr  John  Toole,  mr  Samuell  Danforth.  Richard  Wil- 
liams. James  walker  Sen:  william  Paull  and  James  Tisdil,  and  to  all  the 
rest  above  named,  according  to  their,  and  every  of  their  respective  in - 
trest  in  each  Tract  of  land  as  above  specified,  and  their  and  each,  and 
every  of  their  heirs  and  asignes  forever,  in  the  behalfe,  and  to  the  use  of 
themselves  and  others  the  allowed  Inhabitants,  and  proprietors  of  said 
Towneship  of  Taunton,  and  the  proprietors,  of  said  North  Purchase, 
and  to  their,  and  to  each  and  every  and  each  of  their,  heirs  and  asignes 
for  ever,  in  manner  and  forme  following,  that  is  to  say:  to  hold  in  comon 
all  such  lands,  within  the  bounds  and  limits  aforesaid  respectively,  to 
the  proprietors  of  each  tract  of  Land  Respectively,  as  yet  doth  lye  in 
Comon,  and  undivided  or  wast  lands,  or  for  herbage,  feed  for  catill  fire 
wood  and  Timber  or  such  like  comon  use,  together  with  such  Comon 
priviledges  and  Comodities  belonging  thereunto,  and  every  part  thereof 
shall  and  may  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  be  ordered  given  grant- 
ed disposed  and  assigned  as  the  Major  Part  of  the  proprietors  of  each 
tract  of  land  in  comunitie  Respectively  shall  soe  meet  and  conveniant, 
as  formerly  have  bene  accustomed,  and  to  hold  in  Severally,  and  not 
jointly,  to  each  one  and.  evei-y  of  them,  all  and  every  such  messuages, 
Teniments  and  lands,  as  each  or  any  of  them  are  severaly  and  perticu- 
larly  possessed  of  by  vertue  of  any  grant  from  the  said  william  Bradford 
my  Father  or  his  Associats,  or  from  the  Comitee  Impowered  to  dispose 
of  said  lands,  or  from  the  proprietors  of  said  Towne,  or  obtained  by  gift 
or  purchase  from  any  to  whom  any  such  grant,  hath  beene  heretofore 
made,  and  to  each  and  every  their  heirs  and  asignes  for  ever,  and  to  the 
only  proper  use  and  behoofe  of  them,  and  each  and  every  of  their  heirs 
and  asignes,  Respectively  forever.  To  be  holden  by  his  Majesties  as  of 
his  maiinor  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  County  of  Lent  in  the  Realmc  of 
England  in  the  free  and  comon  Socakage  and  not  in  Capite  nor  Knight, 
servaire,  yeilding  and  paying  to  our  Soveieigne  Lord  the  King  his  heirs 
and  asignes  for  ever,  on  fifth  part  of  the  Oare  of  the  mines  of  Gold  and 
silver,  and  one  other  fifth  part  thereof  to  the  said  President  and  Council, 
which  shall  be  had,  possessed  and  obtained,  within  the  Limits  aforesaid, 
for  all  services  and  demands  whatsoever,  as  is  exsprcssed,  in  said  Leteis 
Patents,  or  grants  of  the  said  Council  Iln  &  I  the  said  william  Bradford, 
and  my  heires  all  and  Singular  the  said  Premises  with  the  appertinances, 
unto  the  afore  said,  mr  John  Poole  mr  Samuell  Danforth  Richard  Wil- 
liams, James  walker  Sen:  william  Paull  and  James  Tisdil,  and  to  all  the 
rest  above  named,  as  is  above  mentioned,  their  and  every  of  their  heires 
and  asignes  Respectively,  against  me  the  said  william  Bradford  and  my 
heirs,  will  forever  hereafter,  warrand  and  defend,  by  these  Presents. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  here  unto  set  my  hand  and  Seal  this  ninth 
day  of  June  Anno  Domini   one  thousand   six  hundred    Eighty  and  nine 


APPENDIX. 


297 


and  in  the  iiist   year  of   Reign  of  King   William  and    (Jueen   Mary  over 
England  cVrc. 

Memorandum  the  word  (by)  over  the  tenth  line  and  the  word  (this) 
over  the  twentyeth  line  and  Philip  King  in  the  margent  against  the 
twenty  second  line  and  the  word  (Town)  over  the  sixty  third  line  were 
Interlined  before  the  sealing  and  delivering  hereof 

William  Bradford.     |seal| 

Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered 
In  the  presence  of 
John  Pollard 
Richard  Haskins 
Phillip  Mason. 

The  within  and  above  mentioned 
William  Bradford  appears  this 
l*ith  of  August  ItiSO  and 
acknowledges  this  Instrument 
to  be  his  act  &  deed, 
before  me 

Tho'^  Hinckley  Gov. 


APPENDIX  R. 


[Paffe  46.1 

The  history  of  the  Sotith  Purchase  was  in  this  wise  :  By  an 
old  Colonial  law  no  person  was  allowed  to  buy  land  of  the  Indians 
except  by  leave  of  the  General  Court,  and  on  July  2d,  1667,  the 
Court  gave  permission  to  Richard  Williams  and  others  to  buy  land 
on  the  west  side  of  the  River  in  these  words: 

■'The  Court  haue  granted  vnto  some  ancient  freemen  liueing  in 
Taunton,  viz:  Richard  Williams.  Walter  Dean,  George  Hall,  AUis 
Dean,  the  wife  of  John  Dean  deceased,  Mr.  John  Poole,  Peter  Pitts. 
James  Walker  and  Henery  Andrewes,  that  they  shallhaue  some  sup- 
plyes  of  land  upon  the  west  side  of  Taunton  Riuer,  if  not  already  granted 
to  any  other;  or  some  other  place  if  it  may  be  obtained." 

(4  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  160.) 

Within  two  years  the  town  took  action  in  the  matter  and 
passed  the  following  vote  : 


298  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELERRATION. 

•'Tliis  (itli  of  May.  Kiliii.  The  town  liatli  voted  and  ^•ho^sen  Lieut, 
(reoige  Masy,  Henry  Andrews  and  Joseph  Wilbore  to  go  down  to  Pliilip 
Saeheni  and  eontir  with  him  about  l)uying  of  ye  hind  from  the  Tlirce 
Mile  Kiver  down  as  far  as  Storehouse  Point,  as  far  as  the  meadows,  and 
lo  buy  it  of  ye  Sachem  as  far  as  they  can  into  ye  woods  from  ye  Great 
IJiver,  and  wliat  bargain  the  above  said  men  sliall  make  with  him  the 
town  dotli  engage  to  perform,  and  the  above  said  men  are  to  go  down 
about  tlie  aforesaid  design  the  next  week."" 

In  the  winter  of  167 1  the  town  passed  this  vote  : 

••Tliis  ISth  day  of  December.  KiTl.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  ui>(>n  by 
ye  town  tliat  the  selectmen  now  in  being  are  empowered  to  use  the  best 
of  their  discretion  for  ye  i)rocuring  of  yc  land  down  ye  river  from  ye 
Three  Mile  lUver  to  Store  House  Point,  that  it  may  be  contirmed  to  our 
township  by  the  Court."" 

(Tlie  selectmen  then  "in  being"'  were  (ieorgc  Macy,  liichard  Wil- 
liams. Walter  Dean,  James  Walker  and  William  Harvey.) 

In  the  following  March,  the  (General  Court  declared 

"That  James  Walker  and  .loliii  Kiclniioiid  arc  authoi-izcd  by  Mic 
Court  to  i)urchase  the  land  of  the  Indians  in  the  behalfe  of  the  towiie  of 
Taunton,  lying  on  the  west  sy<le  of  Taunton  IJiuer,  from  the  Three  MiU- 
Puu'r  downe  to  a  i)lace  called  the  Store  House.""    (•")  Ply.  Col.  l!ec.  p.  .S^<.) 

This  was  followed  by  another  vote  of  the  town  as  follows: 

••  This  -Jd  <lay  of  Sei)tember  1()T2,  The  i)ur(hascrs  or  free  inhabitants 
of  Taunton  1»eing  in  a  probable  way  to  puichasc  a  certain  tract  of  land 
lyeing  down  ye  (ireat  River,  of  Philip  Sachem,  therefore  for  the  better 
managing  of  ye  jjurchase  of  ye  said  land,  and  for  the  procuring  of  firm 
deeds  from  ye  said  Sachem  and  for  ye  looking  to  yc  i)ayments  of  ye  pur- 
chase of  the  said  land  the  above  .said  purchasers  hath  cliosen  this  Com- 
mittee: William  Brenton.  Escj..  Walter  Dean.  William  Harvey.  Lieut, 
fieorge  Macy.  James  Walker.  John  I'dchmond,  Uichaid  Williams." 

This  ("ommiltee  immediately  attended  to  their  duty  and  soon 
obtained  a  deed  from  Philip;  in  consideration  of  143  pounds,  of  a 
tract  three  miles  long  on  the  Great  River,  and  extending  westerl}- 
four  miles,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Three  Mile  River,  a  copy  of 
which  is  as  follows  : 

"To  all  Christian  i)eople  to  whom  tJicse  piesents  shall  come.  I  I'liilip 
alias  Metacum,  Chief  Sachem  of  Pokanokct.  in  the  Colony  of  New  Ply- 
mouth, in  New  England,  send  (Greeting:  Know  yc.  that  L  the  said 
Philip,  alias  Metacum.  for  and  in  consideration  of  one  hundreii  and  forty- 


APPENDIX.  299 

ihvci'  pounds  in  current  pay  to  my  content  to  me  in  hand  paid  before  the 
scalin<;  and  delivery  hereof,  by  William  Brenton.  P^siiuire.  James  Walker^ 
William  Harvey.  Walter  Dean,  Richard  Williams,  and  John  Hichmond, 
all  of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  in  the  Colony  above  .said,  wherewith  I,  the 
said  IMiilip.  alias  Metacum.  do  acknowledge  myself  fully  satisfied,  con- 
tented and  paid  and  thereof  and  of  every  part  and  parcel  thereof  do 
hereby  exonerate,  acquit,  discharjic  and  release  the  said  William  Bren- 
ton, Es(i.,  James  Walker,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Dean,  Richard  Wil- 
liams, and  Jt)hn  Richmond,  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and 
assigns,  forever,  have  given,  granted,  bargained,  sold,  enfeott'ed,  aliened, 
and  confirmed,  and  do  by  these  presents  fully,  freely  and  absolutely  give, 
grant,  bargain,  sell,  enfeott'e,  alien,  make  over  and  confirm  unto  tlie 
.said  William  Brenton,  James  Walker.  William  Harvey.  Walter  Dean. 
Richard  Williams,  and  John  Richmond,  to  them  and  their  ass(x-iates  and 
to  their  and  every  of  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns 
forever,  a  certain  tract  of  land  situate,  lying  and  being  southerly  from 
the  toAvn  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  containing  three  English  miles  one  way. 
and  four  English  miles  the  other  way,  beginning  at  the  three  mile  river 
(so  called)  alias  Xonestecomeek.  and  is  from  said  river  to  range  three 
miles  south  and  by  west,  and  from  the  extent  of  the  said  three 
miles  to  range  four  miles  west  and  by  north  from  the  Great  River  (so 
called)  into  the  woods,  and  from  the  extent  of  that  four  miles  to  range 
north  and  by  east  until  it  meet  with  the  ancient  boinids  of  Taunton  afore- 
said, and  bounded  eastw^ardly  by  the  aforesaid  (ireat  River,  (so  called) 
with  all  timber  and  wood,  meadows,  creeks,  coves,  springs,  ponds,  mines, 
minerals,  and  all  and  singular  the  privileges,  easements,  commodities, 
appurtenances,  and  immunities  of  what  kind  soever  thereunto  l)elonging 
or  in  any  way  ap})ertaining.  and  in  particular  the  i)rivilege  of  said  great 
river  for  the  navigation  of  any  sort  of  vessels,  liiggcr  or  lesser,  and  all 
other  the  i)rivileges  thereof: 

To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said  tract  of  land  ;ind  all  and  every  the  privi- 
leges and  apintrtenances  as  is  before  ex])ressed.  and  all  the  right,  title 
and  interest  whi(d)  he  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum.  now  hath  or  can 
or  may  hereafter  have,  either  by  himself  or  his  heirs,  executors,  adminis- 
trators, assigns,  or  successors,  unto  them,  the  said  William  Brenton. 
James  Walker.  William  Harvey.  Walter  Dean.  Itichard  Williams,  and 
•  lolni  Rirlnnond.  and  their  associates,  and  to  tlicir  and  any  of  their  heirs, 
executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  and  unto  the  i)roper  use  and  be- 
hoof of  them  forever,  to  be  holdcii  according  to  the  tenor  of  East 
(Greenwich  in  his  Ma.jestie"s  County  of  Kent,  in  free  socage  and  not  in 
capita  nor  by  kniglifs  service:  and  the  said  Phili])  doth  for  himself,  his 
heirs,  executors,  administrators,  successors,  aiid  assigns,  hereby  utterly 
disclaim  and  renounce  all  formei-  right,  title,  interest  or  demand  in  or 
unto  the  said  tract  or  any  i)art  or  parcel    tlicreof.    or  to  anything    there- 


300  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

unto  belonoiiio-.  and  doth  by  these  presents  acknowledf;e  the  above  bar- 
gained premises  to  be  tlie  true  and  proper  estate  of  the  said  William 
Brenton,  James  Walker,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Ueaii.  Kichard  Wil- 
liams and  John  Riehmond,  and  their  associates,  and  their  heirs,  execu- 
tors, administrators  and  assigns,  that  he,  the  said  Philij),  alias  Metacum, 
doth  further  for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  successors, 
and  assigns,  promise  and  engage  with  and  unto  the  said  William  Bren- 
ton, James  Walker.  William  Harvey,  Walter  Dean,  Richard  Williams,  and 
John  Richmond,  and  their  associates,  and  to  their  and  every  of  their 
heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  that  he,  the  said  Philip, 
alias  Metacum.  is  the  true,  sole  and  proper  owner  of  the  said  tract  of 
land  and  of  every  part  thereof,  and  of  all  and  every  of  the  easements, 
privileges,  and  commodities  thereunto  belonging,  immediately  before  the 
sealing  and  delivery  hereof,  and  hath  in  himself  good  right  and  lawful 
authority  to  alienate  and  sell  the  same,  and  that  the  said  land,  with  the 
privileges  and  appurtenenances  aforesaid,  is  free  and  clear,  and  freely 
and  clearly  acquitted  and  discharged  from  all  former  gifts,  grants,  bar- 
gains, sales,  forfeitures,  attachments,  judgments,  executions,  mortgages 
and  incumbrances  whatsoever  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this 
day,  and  the  said  bargained  premises  to  warrant  and  defend  from  or 
against  any  person  or  persons  claiming,  or  that  shall  or  may  hereafter 
claim  any  right,  title  or  interest,  in  or  unto  the  same  or  any  part  or  par- 
cel thereof,  from,  by  or  inider  him,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  or 
his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  successors  or  assigns,  whereby 
the  said  William  Brenton,  James  Walker.  William  Harvey.  Walter  Dean. 
Richard  Williams  and  John  Richmond  and  their  associates  or  either  of 
them,  or  either  of  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators  or  assigns,  shall 
or  may  be  ejected  or  evicted  out  of  the  same  or  any  part  thereof,  or  mo- 
lested in  the  quiet  and  peaceable  possession  and  enjoyment  thereof;  and 
further,  the  said  Philij),  alias  Metacum,  doth  for  himself,  his  heirs, 
executors,  administrators,  successors  and  assigns,  covenant  and  promise 
to  and  with  the  said  William  Brenton  Esquire,  James  Walker,  William 
Harvey,  Walter  Dean,  Richard  Williams  and  John  Richmond  and  their 
associates,  and  their  and  every  of  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators 
and  assigns,  that  he  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  upon  reasonable  and 
lawful  demand,  shall  and  will  do  and  perform,  or  cause  to  be  done  and 
performed,  any  and  all  such  further  act  or  acts,  whether  by  acknowledg- 
ing this  deed  of  sale,  or  any  other  kind  whatsoever,  that  shall  or  may  be 
for  the  more  fully  completing  and  contirming  the  aforc-bai gained  prem- 
ises unto  the  said  William  Brenton.  James  Walker,  William  Harvey, 
Walter  Dean,  Richard  Williams  and  John  Richmond  and  their  a.ssoci- 
ates,  and  to  their  and  every  of  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and 
assigns  according  to  the  true  intent  hereof  and  the  colony  aforesaid. 

In   witness   whereof,    I,    the   said    Philip,   alias   Metacum   to   these 
presents  have  put  my  hand  and  seal  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  Septem- 


APPENDIX.  301 

ber,  anno  Domini  one  thonsand,  six  hundred  and  seventy-two,  and  in  the 
twenty-fourth  year  of  the  rei<rn  of  our  Sovereign,  Charles  the  Second, 
King  of  CIreat  Britain,  France  and  Ireland. 

The  mark  of  the  above  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum, 

PHILIP     p     alias  METACUM.  |seal| 

Signed  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  The  mark  of 

JOSEPH  WILBORE,  CAPTAIN     W     ANNA  WAN. 

JOHN  WINCHCOME,  The   mark   of 

THOMAS  PAYCANUT.  UKAMPHOONETT,     J 

The  mark  of  The  mark  of 

THOMAS     T     INDIAN  WINNASHUM  p  NIMROD. 

aliasSAUKSUET.  CHEENAUGSON,     A 

This  deed  was  acknowledged  by  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  this  I  day 
of  October,  1G72,  before  me, 

CONSTANT  SOUTH  WORTH,  Assist. 

This  deed  is  recorded  according  to  the  order  of  Nathaniel  Morton, 
Secretary  to  the  Court  for  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Plymouth.  See  great 
book  of  records,  enrolled  Folio  227. 

[And  see  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  of  Deeds.  Vol.  III.  p  246  :  Prop.  Rec.  of 
South  Purchase,  in  Dighton  Town  Clerk's  office,  p.  3.] 

This  deed  though  dated  September  28,  was  not  acknowledged 
and  delivered  until  Oct.  i,  and  on  the  same  day  Philip  in  consid. 
eration  of  47  pounds,  conveyed  to  Constant  Southworth,  another 
strip  on  the  southerly  side  of  the  first  tract,  one  mile  wide  on  the 
Great  River  and  extending  four  miles  westerly  from  the  river :  a 
copy  of  which  is  as  follows : 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  whereas  I,  Philip,  allies 
Metacum,  Chief  Sachem  of  Pakanauket,  in  the  government  of  New  Ply. 
mouth  have  ingaged  and  mortgaged  four  miles  square  of  land  southwardly 
uf  Taunton  bounds  to  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  Treasurer,  and  having 
already  given  a  deed  of  three  miles  in  breadth  and  four  miles  in  length  of 
the  said  land  unto  some  of  Taunton,  Know  also  by  these  presents,  that 
I,  the  said  Philip,  do  by  these  presents,  bargain,  sell,  give,  grant  and 
make  over  unto  the  said  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  his  heirs  and  assigns 
forever,  the  other  mile  in  breadth  and  four  mile  in  length,  adjoining  to 
the  three  miles  in  breadth  and  four  miles  in  length  already  sold  to  Taun- 
ton men,  which   one  mile  in   breadth   and   four  miles  in  length   above 


302  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

nientionod.  I,  the  said  Philip,  for  and  in  consideration  of  forty-seven 
pounds  in  hand  payd  by  the  said  Constant  Sonthworth  before  the  sealint^- 
&  delivery  hereof,  whereof,  I,  the  said  Philip,  do  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt, and  myself  therewith  fully  satisfied  and  payed.  &  thereof  doe  by 
these  presents  fully,  absolutely  and  clearly  exhonerate,  aquit  and  dis- 
charge the  said  Mr.  Constant  Sonthworth,  his  heirs,  executors  and 
assigns  forever:  To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said  mile  in  breadth  and  four 
miles  in  length,  with  all  and  singular  the  rights,  privileges  and  appurte- 
nances within  and  upon  the  same  or  anyways  thereunto  belonging,  to 
the  said  Mr.  Constant  Sonthworth,  his  heirs  aud  assigns  forever.  To  him 
and  their  use,  profit  and  behoof  forever,  without  any  trouble,  claim  oi' 
molestation  from,  by,  or  under  me,  or  by  my  procurement.  Further- 
more, T,  the  said  Philip,  do  hereby  covenant  and  engage  to  and  with  the 
said  Mr.  Constant  Soutliworth  his  heirs,  and  assigns,  that  I  have  good 
right,  full  power  and  lawful  authority,  in  my  own  name  to  give,  grant, 
bargain,  .sell,  convey  and  confirm  the  above  mentioned  mile  of  land  in 
breadth,  and  four  miles  in  length  as  aforesaid,  and  that  it  shall  and  may 
be  lawful  from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times  hereafter  for  him  and  them 
to  have,  hold,  occupy,  enjoy  and  quietly  to  possess  the  same,  and  by  me 
be  saved  and  kept  harmless,  and  free  and  clear  from  all  charges,  troubles 
and  suits  in  law,  or  any  incumbrances  that  may  arise  by  any  person  or 
l)ersons  laying  any  just  claim  thereunto  or  to  any  part  thereof,  from,  by 
(tr  under  me,  or  by  my  procurement;  furthermore  if  it  appear  that  there 
be  anything  yet  further  to  be  done  for  the  confirmation  of  the  bargained 
premises  unto  the  said  Mr.  Constant  Sonthworth,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
I  do  hereby  promise  and  engage  to  perform  the  same. 

In  witness  whereof.  1  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  scale  the  first 
day  of  October  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand   six  hundred  and 

seventy-two. 

PHILIP,  allies  METACUM.  his     p     marke     [seal] 

Signed,  sealed  &  delivered 

in  the  presence  of, 

THOMAS  LEONARD. 

HUGH  COLE, 

The     O    marke  of  VVINNASHUM,  allies  NIMltOD, 

Tiie     T     marke  of  WOANCKOMPAWHAN, 

The     W     marke  of  (;APT.  ANNAWAN. 

This  deed  of  sale  was  acknowledged  by  Philip,  alias  Metacuni.  this 
1  day  of  October,  1^72,  before  me 

CONSTANT  SOUTHVVORTH.  Assist. 
This  deed  was  acknowledged  this  1  :  D:  72: 

before  me  .lOIlN  ALDEN,  Assistant. 


APPENDIX.  303 

Tliis  deed  is  recorded  according  to  order  of  Mr.  Natlianiel  ^rorton. 
Secretary  of  the  Court  for  the  Jurisdiction  of  New  Plymouth.  See  {^reat 
book  of  evidences  of  hind  enrolled,  Folio  249.  " 

(Ply.  Col.  Rec.  of  Deeds  Vol.  Ill,  p.  268.  Dighton  Prop. 
Rec.  p.  7.) 

Southworth  immediately  assigned  this  last  deed  to  the  same 
Committee  mentioned  in  the  first  deed  (for  whom  doubtless  he 
acted  in  taking  it)  by  an  assignment  on  the  back  thereof,  in  these 
words: 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Constant  Southworth, 
Tieasurer  of  the  Colonic  of  Xew  Plymouth,  do  by  these  presents,  for 
me,  my  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  and  in  the  behalf  of 
the  Colonic  of  Xew  Plymouth  aforesaid,  assign,  assure,  enfeoff  and  con- 
firm unto  Mr.  William  Brenton,  William  Harvey,  .lames  Walker,  Rich- 
ard Williams,  Walter  Deane,  Lieut,  (ieorge  Macy  and  John  Kiclnnond 
committee  of  the  town  of  Taunton,  unto  them  in  the  behalf  of  them- 
selves and  their  heirs,  and  in  the  behalf  and  for  the  only  proper  use  and 
behoof  of  the  free  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Taunton  and  their 
heirs,  the  above  written  deed,  with  all  my  right,  title  and  interest,  that 
I,  the  said  Constant  Southworth.  Treasurer,  liave  therein,  and  the  said 
Colonie  of  Plymouth  hath  therein,  from  us  and  every  of  us.  and  oiu' 
heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  To  them  the  said  C^ommittee  and 
Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taunton  and  their  and  every  of  tlieir  heirs  & 
assigns  forever. 

CONSTANT  SOITTHWORTH,  Treasurer. 
Signed  in  the  presence  of  us, 

NATHANIEL  MORTON, 
BENJAMIN  CHURCH. 

This  assignment  was  acknowledged  by  Mr.  Constant  Southworth, 
Treasurer,  this  sixth  of  the  first  month  7- — 73 

before  me  JOHN  ALDEN,  Assistant, 
(Ply.  Col.  Rec.  of  Deeds,  Vol.  III.  p.  2G8  and  see  Dighton  Prop.  Rec. 
p.  '.).) 

The  consideration  paid  for  these  two  deeds  of  the  four  mile 
tract  thus  amounted  to  190  pounds;  but  there  was  a  prior  mort- 
gage on  the  whole  from  Philip  to  the  Colony,  which  on  the  27th 
of  the  6th  month  (Sept.)  Constant  Southworth.  Treasurer,  assigned 
to  William  Harvey  and  John  Richmond  in  behalf  of  the  town  for 
the  sum  of  83  pounds  due  thereon,  as  appears  by  the  following 
transfer :  no  record  of  the  mortgage  itself  being  found  ; 


304  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

PRENCE    GOV'r. 

"  Plymouth  this  27th  of  the  Gth,  1672.  These  are  to  whom  it  may 
concei'ii,  that  Willam  Harvey  and  John  Eichmond,  of  Taunton,  haue 
giuen  me  bill  vnder  theire  hands,  for  the  sume  of  eighty  three  pounds, 
which  was  due  from  Phillip,  the  Sachem,  to  the  Colonic,  for  which  sume 
said  Phillip  engaged  to  mee  foure  miles  square  of  land  downe  Taunton 
Riuer  and  next  vnto  Taunton  bounds,  which  engagement  or  mortgage,  1 
heerby  make  oner  vnto  the  abouesaid  Willam  Harvey  and  John  Kich- 
mond,  in  the  behalf e  of  the  Towne,  for  theire  cecuritie  for  the  aforsaid 
bills  vnder  theire  hands  made  vnto  mee;  and  for  the  truth  of  this  I  haue 
subscribed  my  hand  the  day  and  yeare  aboue  written. 

CONSTANT  SOUTH  WORTH,  Treasurer. 

(See  Old  Col.  Rec.  Court  Orders,  Vol.  5,  Part  I,  Page  72.) 

If  therefore,  this  83^  be  added  to  the  190^  paid  directly  to 
Philip,  it  would  seem  that  the  South  Purchase  cost  the  purchasers 
273jC  in  all. 

This  whole  tract  four  miles  square,  was  therefore,  Nov.  26, 
1672,  conveyed  by  said  Committee  to  the  parties  interested,  by  a 
declaratory  deed  of  that  date  of  which  this  is  a  copy.  (Taunton 
Prop.  Records,  Vol.  IV,  p.  232.) 

"Know  all  men  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that  whereas,  we,  William 
Brenton  Esq.,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  James  Walker,  William 
Harvey  &  John  Richmond  hath  through  difficulty  obtained  of  Philip, 
Sachem,  and  of  Mr.  Constant  Southworth  Treasurer  for  the  Colony  of 
New  Plymouth,  a  tract  of  land  containing  four  miles  square  lying  and 
situate  below  the  Three  Mile  River  (so  called)  for  themselves  and  their 
associates,  as  appears  by  deeds,  we  the  abovesaid  William  Rrenton,  Esq.> 
Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  James  Walker,  William  Harvey  and 
John  Richmond,  do  by  these  presents  declare  to  be  our  associates  and  to 
be  equally  interested  in  the  abovesaid  four  miles  of  land,  the  now  living 
free  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taunton  whose  names  are  underwritten, 
always  provided  that  all  these  associates  shall  truly  and  faithfully  pay 
or  cause  to  be  paid  their  full  proportions  to  the  purchase  and  all  other 
necessary  charges  expended  in  or  about  the  abovesaid  land  as  they  shall 
be  appointed  both  to  the  sum  and  the  species,  and  time  and  place  of  paj'- 
ment,  but  if  any  of  those  associates  shall  refuse  or  fail  to  pay  their  full 
proportion  to  all  payments  as  abovesaid,  they  shall  lose  their  right  and 
interest  to  the  abovesaid  land  tV:  it  shall  be  lawfully  forfeited  to  the  re- 
mainder of  the  associates,  odly.  That  these  associates  shall  not  make 
any  alteration  of  their  parts  or  interest  in  the  abovesaid  land  to  any  for- 
eigner, except  first  approved  by  the  town  of  Taunton. 


APPENDIX. 


305 


The  names  of  ye  Associates. 


George  Shove. 
Giles  Gilbert. 
John  Macomber  sr. 
John  Dean. 
Peter  Pitts. 
John  Tisdale  sen'r 
Mr.  John  Pool. 
Edward  Rew. 
Henry  Andrews  Jr. 
Nicholas  White  sen'r. 
Thomas  Leonard. 
Thomas  Dean. 
James  Tisdale. 
Thomas  Linkon  sen'r. 
Francis  Smith. 
George  Watson. 
Shadrach  Wilbore. 
Samuel  Smith, 
Samuel  Holloway. 
Joseph  Hall. 
Increase  Robinson. 
Ezra  Dean. 
Peter  Walker. 
Nicholas  White  Jr. 
James  Leonard  Jr. 
Richard  Stephens. 
Jonah  Astin,  Jr. 
John  Smith  Jun'r. 
Aaron  Knap  Jr. 


George  Macy. 
Hezekiah  Hoar. 
James  Phillips. 
Joseph  Wilbore. 
Thomas  Gilbert. 
Christopher   Thrasher. 
John  Cob. 
Thomas  Caswell. 
Samuel  Pitts. 
Samuel  Hall. 
Nathaniel  Williams. 
Joseph  Williams. 
Israel  Dean. 
Thomas  Linkon  Jr. 
James  Burt. 
Richard  Stacy. 
John  Smith  sen'r. 
Robert  Grossman  sen'r. 
Malachi  Holloway. 
Mary  Street. 
Thomas  Harvey  Jr. 
William  Hailstone. 
Israel  Thrasher. 
James  Bell. 
John  Linkon. 
Thomas  Williams. 
Richard  Briggs. 
John  Macomber  Ji 
John  Eddy. 


Henry  Andrews. 
John  Hall. 
John  Hathaway. 
Aaron  Knap. 
Richard  Burt, 
John  Briant. 
Edward  Bobit. 
William  Wetherell. 
Samuel  Williams. 
James  Leonard  sen'r. 
Robert  Thornton. 
John  Tisdale  Jr. 
Jonathan  Briggs. 
John  Turner. 
Jonah  Austin  sen'i". 
John  Hodgos. 
Thomas  Harvey  sen'r. 
William  Paull. 
Ester  Gollop. 
Nathaniel  Thayer. 
Isaac  Dean. 
James  Walker  Jr. 
Samuel  Macy. 
Jared  Talbut. 
Stephen  Caswell. 
William  Wetherell. 
Edward  Cobb, 
ye  son  of  John  Macomber. 
Thomas  Armsbee. 


Joseph  Willis. 

"These  persons  named  we  acknowledge  to  be  our  associates  upon 
the  condition  above  written.     November  20:  1672.  " 


"  Walter  Dean. 
AVilliam  Harvey. 


Richard  Williams. 
James  Walker. 


John  Richmond. " 

Here  are  eighty-seven  persons  named  as  probable  owners  in 
the  South  Purchase,  but  apparently  they  did  not  all  comply  with 
the  conditions  mentioned  in  the  deed;  for  in  1683-4  another 
declaratory  deed  was  made  to  only  seventy-seven  of  the  above 
list,  as  follows,  viz  : 


306  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  Committee's  declaration  of,  or  deed,  to  their  Associates. 

"This  present  writing  declareth  to  all  to  wliome  it  may  come  or 
concerne,  That  whereas,  ye  Honoured  Court  of  Plymouth,  in  New  Eng- 
land, granted  to  James  Walker,  Sen'r,  and  John  Richmond,  of  Taunton, 
in  ye  Colonic  of  Plymouth  aforesaid,  an  order  to  purchase  a  tract  of 
land  of  the  Indians  for  the  free  Inhabitants  of  ye  Township  of  Taunton 
aforesaid,  as  by  ye  records  of  ye  said  Court  as  may  more  fully  appear, 
ye  above  sd  tract  of  land  is  lying  and  being  on  ye  west  side  of  Taunton 
Great  River,  so-called,  and  for  ye  better  managing  of  ye  sd  purchase,  the 
free  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid  did  add  to  ye  aforesd  James 
Walker  and  John  Richmond,  William  Brenton,  Esquire,  Lieft.  George 
Macey,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  and  William  Harvey,  all  of 
them  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  as  a  Committee  to  act  for  and 
in  behalf  of  ye  free  inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  that  whatsoever 
this  above  named  Committee,  or  the  major  part  of  them  shall  doe  in 
or  i-especting  ye  premises  aforesaid  should  stand  firm  and  good,  as  by 
ye  records  of  ye  Town  may  at  large  appear,  the  above  named  Committee 
obtaining  deeds  for  ye  afovcsd  tract  of  land,  under  ye  hand  and  seals  of 
ye  right  proprietors  thereof  to  be  to  ye  abovsd  Committee  and  their 
Associates,  and  to  their  heirs,  executors,  and  assigns,  the  sd  Committee 
declaring  under  their  hands  who  might  be  their  full  Associates  in  all 
respects  whatsoever  in  ye  said  tracts  of  Innd  named  in  ye  said  deeds 
from  Philip  Sachem,  alias  Metacombe,  and  Mr.  Constant  Southworth, 
treasurer  for  ye  Colony  aforesd,  dated  ye  28th  day  of  September,  1G72, 
and  its  other  deed  ye  first  day  of  October,  in  year  1672,  upon  conditions 
inserted  in  ye  records  of  said  Towne,  bearing  date  ye  6th  December,  1672, 
as  by  ye  records  of  ye  said  Towne  may  apper:  Now,  we,  ye  aforesd  Com- 
mittee do  by  these  presents  declare  that  these  men  whose  names  are  un- 
derwritten, and  none  but  these,  are  fully  associated  and  as  fully  com- 
pletely and  firmly  interested  and  entitled  in  ye  above  sd  Tract  of  land, 
specified  in  ye  above  named  deeds,  as  this  above  named  Committee 
whose  names  are  inserted  in  ye  sd  deeds,  and  as  equally  interested  as  it 
is  already  laid  out  by  lott,  and  in  that  part  of  ye  abovesd  lands  which 
shall  or  may  be  hereafter  or  may  be  hereafter  divided  by  lott,  firm  and 
free  to  them  and  their  heirs,  executors  administrators  and  assigns 
forever,  acknowledging  these  and  none  but  these,  performed  all  condi- 
tions specified  in  ye  said  declaration  bearing  date  December  ye  6th,  1672 
as  abovesd;  in  confirmation  hereof  we,  the  major  part  of  the  abovesd 
(Jommittee,  have  set  to  our  hands  under  ye  names  of  ye  Associates  this 
18th  of  March,  1683-4" 

Mr.  George  Shove.  Israel  Deane. 

Henry  Andrews.  Jonathan  Briggs. 

Mr.  Giles  Gilbert.  John  Turner. 


APPENDIX. 


307 


Hezekiah  Hoar. 

John  Hall. 

John  Macomber,  Sr. 

James  Phillips. 

John  Hathaway. 

John  Dean. 

Joseph  Wilbore. 

Aron  Knapp. 

Peter  Pitts. 

Thomas  Gilbert. 

Richard  Burt. 

John  Tisdale,  Sr. 

Christopher  Thrasher. 

John  Poole. 

Edward  Bobbitt. 
Edward  Rew. 

Thomas  Caswell. 
William  Witherell. 
Henry  Andrews,  Jr. 
Samuel  Pitts. 
Nicholas  White,  Sr. 
Samuel  Hall. 
James  Leonard,  Sr. 
Thomas  Lincoln,  Sr. 
Thomas  Lincoln,  Jr. 
Francis  Smith. 
James  Burt. 
Jonah  Austin,  Sr. 
George  Watson. 
Thomas  Leonard. 
Nathaniel  Williams. 
Robert  Thornton. 
Thomas  Deane. 
Joseph  Williams. 
John  Tisdale,  Jr. 
James  Tisdale. 


Richard  Stacej'. 
John  Hodges. 
Shadrach  Wilbore. 
John  Smith,  Sr 
Thomas  Hai'vey,  Sr. 
Samuel  Smith. 
Robert  Grossman,  Sr. 
William  Paul. 
Samuel  Holloway. 
Malachi  Holloway. 
Ester  Gallop. 
Joseph  Hall. 
James  Leonard,  Jr. 
John  Lincoln. 
Richard  Stephens. 
Joseph  Willis. 
Mary  Street. 
Nathaniel  Thayer. 
Increase  Robinson. 
Tliomas  Harvey,  Jr. 
Lsaac  Deane. 
Ezra  Deane. 
Thomas  Williams. 
William  Witherell  Jr. 
Richard  Briggs. 
Samuel  Williams. 
James  Walker,  Jr. 
Peter  Walker. 
Israel  Thrasher. 
Samuel  Macey. 
Nicholas  White,  Jr. 
Jared  Talbot. 
John  Smith,  Jr. 
John  Macomber,  Jr. 
Thomas  Amesbery. 


The  names  of  the  Committee  are  these^ — 

GEORGE  MACEY,  [seal] 

JAMES  WALKER,  [seal] 

WALTER  DEANE,  [seal] 

JOHN   RICHMOND,  [seal] 

This  80th  of  December,  16S4,  ye  Associates  above  named  hath   by 
vote  chosen  John  Richmond  and  John  Hathaw  ay  Sr.  to  see  this  writing 


308  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  before  a  magistrate,  and  also   to  see  it  re- 
corded in  ye  Court  Roles  at  Plymouth. 

George  Macey,  James  Walker,  Walter  Deane,  and  John  Richmond, 
being  ye  major  part  of  ye  Committee  above  mentioned,  appeared  ye  20 
March,  1684,  and  acknowledged  this  instrument  to  be  their  act  and  deed, 
before 

JOHN  W ALLEY,  Assist. 

(Ply.  Col.  Rec.  of  Deeds,  Vol.  V.  p.  302.  Dighton  Prop.  Records, 
Vol.  L  p.  lo. 

Thus  far  the  Taunton  Purchases  had  all  been  made  originally 
of  the  Indians,  with  or  without  a  confirmatory  deed  from  the  Gov- 
ernment. But  Assonet  Neck,  a  peninsular  between  the  Great 
River  and  its  Assonet  Branch,  about  two  miles  long  and  less  than 
one  broad,  the  natives  had  always  refused  to  sell,  if  indeed  the 
white  people  were  allowed  to  buy.  It  was  seized  by  the  Colony  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  the  Indian  Wars,  and  in  1675  the  lands  "att 
Assonett  Necke  200  pounds"  were  pledged  by  the  General  Court 
for  the  "  incurragement  of  the  souldiers  sent  forth  on  the  first 
expedition  against  the  Indians"  as  indicated  by  this  order: 

•'Whereas  the  Court  for  the  incurragement  of  the  souldiers  sent 
forth  on  the  first  expedition  against  the  Indians,  did  order  and  engage, 
according  to  theire  desire,  that  they  should  have  theire  pay  in  mony  or 
lands;  and  noe  way  att  psent  appeering  to  raise  monyes,  doe,  theirfore, 
for  theire  satisfaction,  order,  that  certaine  tracts  of  land  be  assigned,  to 
the  vallue  of  about  one  thousand  pounds,  to  be  deuided  amongst  them 
for  the  payment  of  theire  respectiue  ptes  due  vnto  them;  the  said  tracts 
assigned  being  att  Showamett  supposed  to  be  neare  the  vallue  of  500", 
att  Assonett  Necke  200",  att  Assowmasett,  200",  and  about  Agawaam  and 
Sepecan,  one  hundred  pound;  soe  as  the  said  tractes  shallbe  more 
pticularly  viewed  and  vallued  as  att  mony  prise,  according  to  such  indif- 
ferent rates  as  they  might  haue  bine  esteemed  worth  when  the  said  or- 
der was  made;  and  for  the  better  effecting  thereof,  the  Treasurer,  Major 
Cudworth,  Cornett  Studsou,  and  James  Walker  are  desired  and  appoint- 
ed to  take  view  thereof  and  make  reporte  to  the  Court  or  councell,  for 
the  settieing  of  the  same  att  such  reasonable  rates  as  to  them  shall  seem 
meet,  to  be  deuided  to  the  .said  soldiers,  or  sold  for  theire  pay  or  dis- 
charge of  other  nessesarie  dues  occationed  by  this  warr. '"  (Ply.  Col. 
Rec.  Vol.  V.  p.  191.) 

And  in  July  1677,  the  Court  ordered  said  lands  to  be  sold, 
and  the  proceeds  divided  among  the  several  towns  according  to 


APPENDIX.  309 

their  disbursements   towards   the  war,   and   if  not  sold   the  lands 
themselves  should  be  divided.     (V  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  240.) 

On  Nov.  12th  1677  Constant  Southworth,  the  Treasurer  of 
the  Colony  conveyed  these  Assonet  lands  to  George  Shove,  James 
Walker,  James  Tisdale,  Walter  Deane,  William  Harvey  and  Rich- 
ard Williams  which  Mr.  Baylies  says  were  divided  among  them. 
May  23d,  1680.  This  tract  was,  in  July  1682,  annexed  to  and 
made  a  part  of  Taunton  by  order  of  the  General  Court  at  Ply- 
mouth in  these  words : 

"July  1682.  This  Court  orders  the  land  called  Assonett  Necke, 
being  purchased  by  some  of  Taunton,  that  the  said  tract  of  land  shalbe 
in  the  townshipp  of  Taunton."     (VI  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  94.) 

This  was  apparently  the  last  addition  of  territory  to  Taunton. 
At  the  incorporation  of  Dighton  in  1712,  it  was  included  in  the 
boundaries  of  that  town,  but  owing  probably  to  its  inaccessibility 
from  Dighton  it  was  added  to  Berkley  in  1799  and  still  remains  in 
that  municipality.  A  copy  of  the  act  annexing  it  to  Berkley  fol- 
lows. 

Chap.  35. — An  act  to  set  off  part  of  the  town  of  Diohton,  in  the 
County  of  Bristol  and  to  annex  the  same  to  the  town  of  Berkley,  in  said 
county. 

I3e  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Kepresentatives  in  General 
Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  all  the  lands 
called  Assonet  Neck,  lying  within  the  following  bounds,  now  belonging 
to  the  town  of  Dighton,  in  the  County  of  Bristol,  viz. :  Beginning  at  the 
head  of  a  "  Cove  "  called  Smith's  Cove,  a  bound  between  the  said  towns 
of  Dighton  and  Berkley,  and  running  southwesterly  by  said  Cove  on  the 
line  between  the  towns  aforesaid  to  the  Great  River;  then  running- 
down  stream  by  said  river  till  it  comes  to  Assonet  River;  then  up  stream 
on  Assonet  River  till  it  comes  to  the  line  of  the  town  of  Freetown;  then 
running  northcasteily  on  said  Freetown  line  till  it  comes  to  the  line  of 
said  town  of  Berkley;  then  northwesterly  on  said  Berkley  line  to  the 
place  of  beginning  at  the  head  of  the  Cove,  with  the  inhabitants  there- 
on be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  set  otf  from  said  town  of  Dighton,  and 
aimcxed  to  said  town  of  Berkley.  Provided,  that  the  inhabitants  living 
on  said  tract  of  land  shall  be  holden  to  pay  their  proportion  of  all  legal 
taxes  which  have  been  assessed,  ordered  or  voted  to  be  laid  on  said 
Dighton  by  the  inhabitants  thereof  or  by  the  General  Court  in  the  same 
manner  as  though  this  Act  had  never  passed. 


3IO  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

In  1685  Gov.  Hinckley  made  a  confirmatory  deed  of  all  the 
lands  then  belonging  to  Taunton,  the  language  of  which  clearly 
indicated  that  the  first  purchase  of  Taunton  was  made  of  Mas- 
sasoit  and  is  in  these  words  : 

"BE  IT  KNOWN  TO  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS: 

That  whereas  the  Gouvcruour  &  Associats  of  this  his  Maj'ties  Col- 
lony  being  assembled  to<:»cthcr  in  General  Court  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1040  (lid  {Tiant  unto  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pool,  Mr.  Nicholas  Street  &  some 
others  and  to  such  as  they  should  associate  to  them  a  tract  of  land  for  a 
plantation  called  by  the  natives  Cohanet  as  by  the  Records  of  ye  said 
Grant  with  ye  explanation  thereof  doth  and  may  appear  which  hath  now 
for  upwards  of  forty  years  been  settled  and  brought  into  a  Township 
called known  by  ye  name  of  Taunton.  The  first  settlers,  pro- 
prietors &  some  of  ye  inhabitants  haveing  allso  purchased  ye  sd.  lands 
of  Woosoquequen  the  then  Clieefe  Sachem  of  Mount  Hope,  and  the  Po- 
kanet  Countrey  and  since  confirmed  unto  them  by  Philip  his  son  as  by 
Record  doth  appear  and  likewise  have  made  several  aditions  of  lands  to 
ye  said  Towneship  by  i^urchase  from  said  Philip  by  deeds  under  his 
hand  and  seal.  And  from  Isbond  another  Indian  with  the  Courts  allow- 
ance, and  from  others  of  their  neighbour  English.  All  which  appears 
upon  ye  Records  of  this  Court.  The  lines  and  bounds  of  the  whole 
Township  as  it  now  lyetli  run  and  stated  between  them  &  other  of  the 
neighbour  towns  and  plantations  are  as  followcth,  viz:  first  talcing  into 
said  Township,  Assonate  Neck  with  the  meadow  land  thereon  &  there- 
about, Belonging  to  Taunton  as  appears  by  ye  Agreement  between 
Taunton  agents  &  ye  Freetown  agents  as  appears  allso  by  Record.  And 
so  ye  Township  of  Taunton  to  goo  to  and  border  upon  the  Township  of 
ffreetowu,  And  an  east  &  by  south  line  running  between  them  four  miles 
as  by  Court  grant  in  Anno  Domini  1040  and  said  Agreement  and  Record 
doth  appear,  until  it  come  to  Middlcbury  bounds  and  thence  on  a  right 
line  between  Middlcbury  and  Taunton  townships  to  Basting  Brook  as  by 
Record  doth  appear  and  from  thence  northerly  on  a  line  between  Mid- 
dlcbury and  Taunton  Townships  and  between  Taunton  and  ye  land  be- 
longing to  some  Indians  at  Titicut  until  it  meet  with  and  come  to  yc 
bounds  between  s'd  Taunton  and  Bridgewater  on  the  westerly  side  of 
Taunton  Great  River,  agreed  upon  by  the  Agents  of  the  respective  towns 
&  so  running  from  station  to  station  on  the  bounds,  between  the  town- 
ships of  Taunton  and  Bridgewater  as  by  the  agreement  between  s'd 
agents  doth  appear  upon  Record,  untill  it  meet  an  East  by  south  line 
running  between  the  Township  of  Taunton  and  a  tract  of  land  called  the 
North  purchass  taking  in  to  Taunton  Township  all  the  meadows  on  both 
sides  Taunton  Riv(!r  on  the  ui)per  Bide  of  a  line  running  from  ye  ])oint  of 


ATPENDIX.  311 

Assonate  nock  next  to  Tannton  River  cross  to  the  wcstwardly  side  said 
River  on  a  west  and  by  north  point  and  from  thence  to  tlie  bonnds  be- 
tween Tannton  &  Swanzey  by  the  water  side  and  so  lunning  from  ye 
water  side  four  miles  west  and  by  north  and  from  the  end  of  that  four 
miles  to  run  north  and  by  east  until  it  meet  with  the  line  of  the  Courts 
first  {i-rant,  which  was  to  run  foui-  miles  west  &  by  north  from  two 
marked  trees  at  a  place  called  the  pond  near  three  Mile  River  and  from 
thence  runninj^  north  and  by  west  eight  miles  and  from  thence  upon  an 
cast  and  by  south  line  untill  it  meet  with  the  afores'd  bounds  between 
Taunton  and  Bridgewatcr  and  the  aforesaid  north  purchass.  All  which 
lands  both  of  upland,  Marsh,  meadow,  Islands  and  Swamp,  contained 
within  the  bounds  and  lines  afores'd  and  all  other  lands  and  meadows 
above  expressed  at  Assonate  and  both  sides  of  Assonate  Bayalltho  some 
of  said  meadows  not  falling  within  these  lines  yet  the  property  of  them 
doth  belong  to  the  proprietors  of  Taunton  and  the  rest  being  within  the 
afores'd  lines  are  hereby  declared  to  be  of  and  belong  unto  the  said 
township  of  Taunton,  both  jurisdiction  of  Township  and  soyle. 

Now  Know  Yee  that  I,  Thomas  Hinckley  Gov.  of  his  Majesties  Col- 
lony  of  New  Plimouth  afores'd  for  our  Sovereign  Lord,  the  King,  by 
vertuc  of  the  power  committed  to  me  as  well  as  by  an  Act  and  order 
made  by  William  Bradford  and  his  Associates  assembled  in  Court  Anno 
Dom.  lG-'}(3  as  by  after  Acts  and  orders  of  Court  since  made  for  ye  more 
full  assurance  and  absolute  confirmation  of  all  the  said  lands  above  men- 
tioned both  upland.  Marsh,  Meadows.  Swamps,  together  with  all  the 
wood,  trees,  timber,  underwood  lyeing,  standing  or  growing  thereon  or 
on  any  pait  or  parcel  thereof,  &  all  rivers,  brooks,  creeks,  coves,  bays, 
ponds  &  waters  therein  or  thereunto  belonging,  together  with  all  rocks 
stones,  mines,  minnorals  with  all  herbage,  feedings  rights,  liberties, 
privileges  &  appurtenances  thereto  belonging  or  anywise  appertain- 
ing as  to  other  grants  of  Court  have  been  accustomed  unto  the  propri- 
ated  Inhabitants  and  other  proprietors  alltho.  not  inhabing  the  said 
Town  of  Taunton  according  to  each  person,  his  or  her  several  respective 
rights  title  and  interest  therein.  To  have  and  to  hold  the  same  unto  ye 
said  proprietois  respectively  and  to  their  respective  heirs  and  assigns 
forever  to  be  holden  of  his  Majestic  his  heires  and  his  successors  as  of 
his  Manor,  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  County  of  Kent  in  the  Realme  of 
England  in  free  &  common  soccage  &  not  in  capitie  nor  by  Knts 
service,  yielding  and  paying  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  the  one-llfth  part  of  the  ore  of  gold  and  silver  and  one 
other  fifth  part  to  the  president  and  council  according  to  the  form  and 


3T2  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

tenour  of  our  f?rant.  Granted  in  our  Charter  or  Patent  having  hereunto 
fixed  the  common  seal  of  ye  Government.  Given  the  tenth  day  of  June 
Anno  Dom.  1685  Annoqe  R  Rs.     Jacobi  secundi  primo  &c. 

THOMAS  HINCKLEY  Publique 

and  ye 
seal. 

Vera  Copia  extracted  from  the  original  &  entered  upon  record  March 
ye  28,  1709  by  John  Cary  Recordr.  |  Bristol  Co.  No.  District  Land 
Records,  Book  V.  Pages  479  &  480.] 

By  all  these  conveyances  it  would  seem  that  Taunton  had  a 
perfect  title  to  all  the  lands  therein  mentioned ;  but  in  1689  Major 
William  Bradford  having  made  some  claim  to  all  this  territory,  the 
town  paid  him  twenty  pounds  for  his  alleged  rights,  and  he  gave  a 
deed  of  release  and  confirmation  to  John  Poole  and  one  hundred 
and  three  others,  whose  names  are  given  in  Vol.  IV  of  Mr.  Baylies' 
Memoirs,  p.  81,  and  note. 

There  was  therefore  much  foundation  for  the  statement  of 
John  Richmond,  son  of  the  first  purchaser,  of  that  name,  made  in 
1698,  in  a  letter  from  him  to  Lieut.-Col.  Elisha  Hutchinson  and 
others,  dated  Taunton,  April  30,  1698,  to  be  found  in  the  State 
Archives,  Vol.  113,  p.  167,  in  which  he  says: — 

"We  bought  it  first  of  Woosamequin  in  the  year  '39  or  '40  (this  was 
in  my  minority)  tlic  sum  paid  I  know  not;  then  we  bought  all  again  of 
Philip,  and  paid  him  16  pounds  for  it;  then  we  bought  that  very  spot  of 
Josiali,  he  claiming  some  land  there  as  appears  by  his  deed,  then  we 
bought  that  spot  again,  with  other  land  of  Maj.  Bradford,  he  had  20 
pounds  more,"  etc. 

By  the  foregoing  deeds  it  appears  that  the  South  Purchase, 
was  originally  about  four  miles  square  ;  but  a  controversy  soon  arose 
between  Taunton  and  Swansey  as  to  the  new  territory,  which  in 
1672  was  referred  to  the  General  Court  at  Plymouth,  which  made 
this  order  thereon  : 

"In  reference  to  a  controversye  depending  betwixt  the  townes  of 
Taunton  and  Swansey  respecting  the  lands  mortgaged  to  the  Treasurer 
by  Philip,  tlie  sachem,  being  by  the  said  townes  respectiue  agents  re- 
ferred to  tills  Court  for  the  finall  determination  and  issue  thereof,  whose 
picas  being  licard  and  duly  woyed,  this  Court  orders,  that  the  three  miles 
first  purchased,  for  which  a  deed  hath  been  obtained  of  the  said  sachem, 


APl'ENDIX.  313 

slialbc  and  belon<^e  viito  the  townc  of  Taunton,  and  aucounipted  witliin 
tlieire  township,  provided  that  Swanscy  men  doe  pay  or  cause  to  be 
]Kiyed  tlieire  full  part  of  the  payment  made  or  to  be  made  for  the  re- 
deeming of  the  said  lands  mortgaged,  or  for  the  farther  payment  of  the 
purchase  vnto  Philip,  according  both  for  specie  and  time  equally  pro- 
portionable to  the  other  lands  purchased  as  abouesaid;  alsoe  that  Swan- 
scy men  shall  from  time  to  time  allow  convenient  ways  to  Taunton  men 
vnto  their  meddows  lying  within  the  line  of  Swansey  and  timber  to 
fence  them,  with  such  smalle  stripps  or  points  of  vplaud  to  run  theire 
fence  on  as  may  be  necessary  for  fencing  the  said  meddowes,  and  that 
the  said  meddowes  bee  exempted  from  rates  att  Swansey."  [Ply.  Col. 
Rec.  Vol.  V,  page  107.] 

But  this  adjustment  did  not  apparently  prove  satisfactory,  for 
on  the  next  July  the  agents  of  each  town  made  a  division  by 
which  "  the  property  of  the  two  miles  abutting  on  the  salt  water 
shall  belong  to  Taunton,  and  that  the  property  of  the  other  two 
miles,  running  into  the  woods  shall  appertain  and  belong  to  Swan- 
sey, the  town  of  Swansey  paying  to  Taunton  thirteen  pounds  ten 
shillings,  [Ply.  Col.  Deeds,  Vol  IV,  p.  105]  This  accounts  for  the 
projection  of  a  corner  of  Swansey  into  the  southwest  corner  of 
Dighton,  and  which  has  since  been  called  "The  Two  Mile  Pur- 
chase." 


APPENDIX  S. 

[Page  48.1 


In  the  Spring  of  162  r,  (March)  Massasoit  and  the  Colonists 
entered  into  an  alliance,  called  the  Peace  of  Plymoutli,  the  terms 
of  which  were  : 

''First,  That  neither  Massasoit.  nor  any  of  his,  should  injure  nor  do 
hurt  to  any  of  the  Colony. 

Secondly,  That  if  any  of  his  did  any  hurt  to  any  of  theirs,  he  should 
send  the  offender  that  they  might  punish  him. 

Thb-dly,  That  if  any  thing  was  taken  away  from  any  of  theirs,  he 
should  cause  it  to  be  restored,  and  they  should  do  the  like  to  his. 

Fvnrtlily.  That  if  any  did  unjustly  war  against  him.  they  would  aid 


314  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

him;  and  if  any  did  war  aji,ainst  tlicm  lie  sliould  aid  them. 

Fifthly,  That  lie  sliouhl  send  tt)  liis  neii;ld)()nr  confederates  to  eertify 
them  t)f  tliis,  tliat  they  mi<;lit  not  wron<;'  them,  hut  minlit  be  likewise 
eompvised  in  the  conditions  of  Peace. 

Sixthly^  That  when  his  men  come  to  them  on  any  occasion,  they 
should  leave  their  Arms,  (viz. :  Bows  and  Arrows)  behind  them. 

Seventhly,  That,  so  doing,  the  Soverei<^n  Lord,  Kin<j;  James,  should 
esteem  him  as  his  friend  and  Ally." 

[Neal's  Hist,  of  New  England.     Vol.  I,  p.  08.] 

This  treaty  renewed  in  March,  1639,  was  f'lithfully  kept  by 
Massasoit  until  his  death  in  1660  or  i66t.  His  son  Alexander 
succeeded  him,  but  died  in  about  a  year  afterward.  Philip  then  be- 
came the  Chief  Sachem,  and  in  August,  1662,  renewed  the  treaty 
of  his  father  with  the  Colonists,  which  is  thus  recorded  in  the  Ply. 
Col.  Rec.     Vol.  IV,  p.  26. 

"  Att  a  Court  of  Assistants  held  att  riymouth  on  the  sixth  day 
August  anno  Dom.  10(52  Philip,  ivlias  Mettacum,  sachem  of  Pocanokett, 
making  his  appearance,  did  earnestly  desire  the  continuance  of  that 
amitie  and  friendship  that  hath  formerly  bine  between  this  goument  and 
his  deceased  father  and  brother;  and  to  that  end  the  said  Phillip  doth  for 
himselfe,  and  his  successors  desire  that  they  may  forcuer  remain  subject 
to  the  Kinge  of  England,  his  heires  and  successors,  and  doth  faithfully 
])romise  and  engage  that  hee  will  not  att  any  time  needlessly  or  vnjustly 
prouke  or  raise  warr  with  any  other  of  the  natiues,  nor  att  any  time  giue. 
sell  or  any  way  dispose  of  any  lands  to  him  or  them  ai>pcrtaining  to  any 
strangers,  or  to  any  without  our  priuity,  consent,  or  apjiointnient,  but 
will  in  all  things  indeauor  to  t-arry  peaceably  and  inotlcnciuelly  towards 
the  English. 

And  the  said  Coiu't  did  then  alsoe  exprcsse  theire  willingness  to  con- 
tinew  with  him  and  his  abouesnid  friendshij),  and  doe  on  their  pte  prom- 
ise that  they  will  afoard  tlicni  such  friendly  assistance  by  aduise  and 
otherwise  as  they  justly  may;  iuid  wee  will  retpiire  our  English  att  all 
times  to  carry  frindly  towards  them.  In  witness  whereof  the  said 
Phillip,  the  sachem,  hath  sett  his  hand,  as  alsoe  hisvnkcll,  and  witnessed 
vnto  by  sundry  other  of  his  chiefmen. 

The  niarkc  of   P   Phillip  allis  Metacum,  Sachem  of  Pocanakett. 

The  nrarke  of        Vncuiiipowett,  Vnkell  to  the  abouesaid  sachem. 

Witnessc  John  Sasonioii. 

The  marke  of        Francis,  the  sachem  Nausett. 

The  marke  of  Nimrod        allis  Pumpasa. 

The  marke  of        Punckqnancck. 

The  marke  of        Aciuetaiiuesh. 


APPENDIX.  315 

At  the  meeting  in  Taunton,  in  April,  1671,  at  which  the  Com- 
missioners from  Plymouth  were  Gov.  Prince,  Josias  Winslow,  and 
Constant  Southworth,  Philip  signed  this  document: 

"Taunton,  April  lOtli.  HmI. 
Whereas,  my  father,  my  brother  and  myself  have  formerly  suhmitted 
ourselves  and  our  people  unto  the  king's  majesty  of  England,  and  to  this 
colony  of  Xew  Plymouth,  hy  solemn  covenant  under  our  hand;  but  I  hav- 
ing of  late  through  my  indiscretion,  and  the  naughtiness  of  my  heart, 
violated  and  broken  this  my  covenant  with  my  friends,  by  taking  up 
arms  with  evil  intent  against  them,  and  that  groundlcssly;  I  being  now 
deeply  scnsil)le  of  my  unfaithfulness  and  folly,  do  desire  at  this  time 
solemnly  to  renew  my  covenant  with  my  ancient  friends,  and  my  father's 
friends  above  mentioned,  and  do  desire  (that)  this  may  testify  to  the 
world  against  me,  if  ever  I  shall  fail  in  my  faithfulness  toward  them 
(wliom  I  liave  now  and  at  all  times  found  so  kind  to  me)  or  any  other  of 
the  English  colonies;  and  as  a  real  pledge  of  my  true  intentions,  for  the 
future  to  be  faithful  and  friendly,  1  do  freely  engage  to  resign  up  unto 
the  government  of  New  Plymouth,  all  my  English  arms,  to  be  kept  by 
them  for  their  security,  so  long  as  they  shall  see  reason.  For  tlie  true 
performance  of  the  premises,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  together  witli 
the  rest  of  my  council. 

The  mark  of  Philip,  chief  sachem  of  I'ocanoket. 
In  presence  of —  The  mark  of  Tavoser. 

William  Davis.  The  mark  of  t'apt.  Wispoke. 

William  Hudson.  The  mark  of  Woonkai)onchunt. 

Thomas  Brattle.  The  mark  of  Nimrod.'' 

[Mather's  Hist,  of  Indian  Wars.     Postscrijtt,  p.  T.] 
[Hubbard's  Ind.  Wars.  Vol.  I.] 

As  Philip  did  not  promptly  bring  in  his  guns,  as  stipulated  in 
in  the  foregoing  agreement,  a  letler  was  sent  to  him  by  the  Colony, 
dated  May  27,  1671,  as  follows: — 

■•  .Since  o'"  treaty  att  Taunton,  we  are  vnsattished  in  nuiny  things, but 
especially  yt  you  have  not  so  freely  and  fully  as  we  expected  jier- 
formed  your  Tender  and  o""  agreement  respecting  the  bringing  in  of  all 
yoiu"  guns.  We  heare  of  very  few  you  have  brought  in,  though  it  was 
known  you  had  a  great  number  of  men  in  amies  but  a  day  or  tow  before 
the  treaty,  and  many  were  knowne  to  return  to  Mount  hope  with  Armes 
after  the  Treaty,  and  pi'ticularly  an  Indian  called  John,  the  interpreter, 
is  known  to  have  cariyed  home  tow  guns,  and  lives  by  you,  and  yet  you 
call  them  not  in ;  nor  have  given  any  order,  as  is  said,  to  some  of  your 
men  (as  in  prticulqr  tlicm  att  Assonett)  about  bringing  in  these  armes. 


3l6  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

And  yt  you  had  a  considciable  number  of  men  near  Taunton  in  Amies  att 
the  Time  of  our  Treaty,to  wiiat  intent  may  be  Easilie  conjectured.  These 
and  what  Elce  we  might  mention  makes  to  judge  it  Expedient  yt  you 
shoukl  come  down  and  speake  w"'  us  at  our  generall  Court  the  beginning 
of  next  Month,  that  so  if  it  may  be,  peace  and  good  agreement  may  he 
continued  between  us.   Thus  expecting  your  Compliance  here  in  we  rest. 

Your  friends. 
Labelled— 

(iov.  Prince. 
A  coi)y  of  this  Letor  sent 
to  Phillip  since  the  treaty 
at  Taunton. 

[See  Winslow  Papers,  in  Mass.  Hist.  8oc'y,  p.  oU.] 

To  this  letter  Philip,  so  far  as  known,  made  no  response.  Ac- 
cordingly in  June  following,  the  guns  which  he  had  delivered  on  the 
loth  of  April,  were  declared  forfeit  by  the  General  Court,  by  this 
order : 

"The  Court  determines  all  the  guns  in  our  hands  that  did  belonge  to 
IMiillip  are  justly  forfeit,  and  doe  att  the  psent  order  of  the  deuiding  of 
them,  to  be  kept  att  the  severall  townes  according  tt)  theire  equall  pro- 
portions, vntill  October  Court  next,  and  then  to  Ije  at  the  Courts  dispose, 
as  reason  may  appeer  to  tliem,  and  then  to  belonge  vnto  the  townes,  if 
not  otherwise  disposed  of.     By  the  Court. 

That  which  the  Court  grounds  theire  judgment  vpon  is: 

For  that  att  the  treaty  att  Taunton  Philip  and  his  councel  did  ac- 
knowlidge  that  they  had  bine  in  prepaiation  for  warr  against  vs:  and 
that  not  grounded  vpon  any  injury  sustained  from  vs,  nor  prouocation 
given  by  us,  but  from  theire  own  naughty  harts,  and  because  hcc  had 
formerly  violated  and  broken  soUeme  couenants  made  and  renewed  to 
vs;  hee  then  freely  tendered  (not  being  in  a  capasitie  to  be  kept  faithfull 
by  any  other  bonds)  to  resigne  vp  all  his  English  amies,  for  our  future 
cecuritie  in  that  respect;  hee  failed  greatly  in  pforance  thereof  by  ce- 
crett  conveying  away  and  carrying  home  seuerall  guns  that  might  and 
should  have  bine  deliuered,  and  not  giuing  them  vp  since,  according  to 
his  engagement,  nor  soe  far  as  is  in  his  power;  as  appeers  in  that  many 
guns  are  knowne  still  to  be  amongst  the  Indians  that  line  by  him,  and 
not  soe  much  as  giuing  order  to  some  of  his  men.  that  are  under  his 
ymediate  comaund,  about  the  bringing  in  of  theire  arines.'' 

[Ply.  Col.  Kec,  Vol.  V,  p.  (>'■].] 

Philip,  still  continuing  to  act  in  a  hostile  and  threatening 
manner  towards  the  I^lymoulh  Colony,  was  summoned  before  the 


APPENDIX.  317 

Council  of  War  at  Plymouth,  the  result  of  which  is  thus   stated  in 
their  records. 

"  Seurall  conclusions  agreed  on  by  the  Councell  of  Warr  att  theire 
Meeting  held  at  Plymoutli  on  the  23  of  August,  1671,  as  followeth. 

I.  The  councell  of  war,  liaueing  seriously  considered  of  the  ca.se  in 
reference  to  the  Phillipe,  the  cheife  sachem  of  Pacanacutt,  hee  hauing 
neglected  to  answare  his  ingagement  to  bring  in  his  armes  att  the  day 
appointed,  and  alsoe  in  his  not  coming  in  to  giue  the  reason  thereof, 
being  required  thervnto,  and  his  vnkind  carriages  towards  vs  as  other 
wise,  soe  in  his  indeauoring  to  insence  our  naighbour  collonie  against  vs 
by  misinformations  and  by  his  insolent  carriages  and  expressions  of  vs 
and  against  vs  and  likewise  by  his  entertaining  of  many  strange  Indians 
which  miht  ptend  danger  toward  vs;  in  special  by  his  entertaineing  of 
diuers  Saconett  Indians,  professed  enemies  to  this  collonie,  and  this 
against  good  councell  giuen  him  by  his  best  friends;  the  pmises  consid- 
ered, doe  vnanimously  agree  and  conclude,  that  the  said  Philip  hath  vio- 
lated his  couenant  plighted  with  this  collonie  att  Taunton  in  Aprill  last. 

II.  It  is  vnanimously  agreed  and  concluded  by  the  said  councell, 
that  we  are  necessarily  called  to  cause  the  said  Sachem  to  make  his 
psonall  appeerance  to  make  his  purgation  in  reference  to  the  pmises; 
which  in  case  of  his  refusall,  the  councell,  according  to  what  att  psent 
appeers,  doe  determine  it  necessary  to  indeauorhisreducement  by  force; 
and  inasmuch  as  the  controuersy,  which  hath  seemed  to  ly  more  eme- 
diately  between  him  and  vs,  doth  concerne  all  the  English  plantations,  it 
is  therefore  determined  to  state  the  case  to  our  naighbour  collonies  of 
the  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island;  and  if  by  theire  waighty  advice  to 
the  contrary  wee  are  diuerted  from  our  psent  determinations,  to  signify 
vnto  them,  that  if  they  looke  vpon  themselues  concerned  to  engage  in  the 
case  with  vs  against  a  comon  enimie,  it  shalbe  well  accepted  as  a  naigh- 
bourly  kindnes,  which  we  shall  hold  ourselves  obliged  to  repay  wiien 
Prouidence  may  soe  dispose  that  wee  haue  opportunitie. 

Accordingly,  le'rs  were  despatched  and  sent  from  the  councell,  one 
vnto  the  said  Phillip,  the  said  sachem,  to  require  his  psonall  apperance 
att  Plymouth  on  the  loth  day  of  September  next  in  reference  to  the 
ptculares  aboue  mencioned  against  him;  this  letter  was  sent  by  Mr. 
James  Walker,  one  of  the  councell,  and  hee  was  ordered  to  request  the 
companie  of  Mr.  Roger  Williams  and  Mr.  James  Browne  to  goe  with  him 
att  the  deliuery  of  the  said  letter. 

What  success  Mr.  Walker  had  as  bearer  of  this  letter  to  Philip 
is  disclosed  in  this  letter  from  him  to  Gov.  Prince,  on  the  first  of 
Sept.  as  follows  : 


3l8  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

JAMES  WALKER  TO  GOVERNOR  PRINCE. 
Much  Honovred  Sir, 

AFTER  my  humble  respects  presented  to  you,  these  are  to  acquaint 
you  with  Philip's  answer  to  your  letter.  My  sons  being  visited  with  the 
ague,  forced  me  to  procure  brother  Harvey  to  go  over  to  cousin  James 
Brown  with  the  letter,  who  sent  for  Mr.  Williams  to  interpret;  Mr.  Wil- 
liams not  being  well,  came  not  till  afterwards;  yet  cousin  James  and 
brother  Harvey  went  down  to  Mount  Hope;  and  the  dance  being  broken 
up,  Philip  and  the  most  of  his  chief  men  were  much  in  drink;  only  Ac- 
umpouin  and  Tom  Sancsuik  were  sober;  so  that  Philip  could  not  then 
give  any  answer.  Only  there  passed  some  words  betwixt  Philip  and 
cousin  James,  and  Philip  struck  oft"  cousin  James  Brown's  hat.  The  day 
following  they  went  again  to  Philip,  and  Mr.  Williams  with  them.  The 
letter  being  read  and  Philip  caused  fully  to  understand  it,  they  could  get 
no  positive  answer  about  Philip's  coming  to  Plymouth,  because  Mr.  Eliot 
had  sent  for  him  to  Boston,  and  he  looked  for  another  messenger  that 
day;  which  messenger  they  met  about  two  miles  from  Philip's  house; 
which  messenger  told  them  that  his  message  was  to  desire  Philip  to  be 
at  Punkapoge  the  last  day  of  this  week,  and  at  Boston  the  Tuesday  fol- 
lowing. Philip  and  Tom  exclaimed  much  against  Sausiman  for  report- 
ing that  any  of  the  Narragansett  sachems  were  there.  Not  further  to 
trouble  you;  but  rest  desiring  the  good  Lord  to  be  with  you,  and  guide 
you  in  all  your  weighty  affairs. 

Yours  to  serve, 
Taunton,  Sept.  1,  167L  JAMES  WALKER. 

The  records  of  the  Council  then  proceed  as  follows: 

And  another  letter  was  sent  to  the  Gour.  and  Councell  of  the 
Massachesetts  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  John  Freeman,  one  of  our  majes- 
trates,  and  a  third  was  directed  to  the  Gour.  and  Councell  of  Rhode 
Hand,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hinckley  and  IVfr.  Constant  Southwoith, 
two  other  of  our  majestrates,  whoe  are  ordered  by  our  Councell  with 
the  letter  to  vnfold  our  psent  state  of  matters  relating  to  the  pmises, 
and  to  certify  them  alsoe  more  certainly  of  the  time  of  the  meeting  to- 
gether in  reference  to  engagement  with  the  Indians,  if  theire  be  a  goe- 
ing  forth,  which  wilbe  on  the  20  of  September  next. 

It  was  further  ordered  by  the  Councell,  that  those  formerly  pressed 
shall  remaine  vnder  the  same  impresment  vntil  the  next  meeting  of  the 
said  Councell  on  the  loth  day  of  September  next,  and  soe  alsoe  vntill 
the  intended  expedition  is  issued;  vnlesse  they  shall  see  cause  to  alter 
them,  or  adde  or  detrate  from  them,  as  occation  may  require. 

And  that  all  other  matteis  remaine  as  they  were  in  way  of  prepara- 
tion to  the  said  exjiedition,  vntill  wee  shall  see  the  mind  of  God  further 
by  the  ptculares  forenamed,  improued  for  that  purpose. 


APPENDIX.  319 

It  was  further  ordered  by  the  Councell,  that  all  the  townes  within 
this  jurisdietion  shall  in  the  interem  be  sollisitonsly  cavefull  to  pi'ouide 
for  theii'e  safety  by  convenient  watches  and  wardings,  and  carrying 
theire  armes  to  the  meetings  on  the  Lords  dayes,  in  snch  manor  as  will 
best  stand  with  theire  pticulare  and  the  comon  safety. 

And  in  pticulare,  they  ordered,  that  a  guard  shalbe  prouided  for  the 
safety  of  the  Gou'nors  pson,  during  the  time  of  the  abouenamed  troubles 
and  expeditions. 

And  the  Councell  were  sumoned  by  the  presedent  to  make  theire 
psonall  appeerance  at  Plymouth,  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  September 
next,  to  attend  such  further  business  as  shalbe  then  psented  by  Proui- 
dence  in  reference  to  the  pmises. 

The  action  of  the  Council  at  the  next  meeting  is  thus  stated  : 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1071,  the  councell  of  warr  appeered 
according  to  theire  sumons,  but  Phillip  the  sachem,  appeered  not,  but  in 
sted  thereof  repaired  to  the  Massachusetts,  and  made  complaint  against 
vs  to  diuers  of  the  gentlemen  in  place  there,  who  wrote  to  our  Gour.  by 
way  of  pswasion,  to  aduise  the  Councell  to  a  comi)lyance  with  the  said 
sachem,  and  tendered  theire  healp  in  the  achieuing  thereof,  declaring  in 
sume  that  they  resented  not  his  offence  soe  deeply  as  wee  did,  and  that 
they  doubted  whether  the  couenants  and  engagements  that  Phillip  and 
his  predecessors  had  plighted  with  vs  would  plainly  importe  that  hee 
had  subjected  himselfe  and  people  and  country  to  vs  any  further  then  as 
jn  a  naighbrly  and  frindly  correspondency. 

'  The  Councell,  haueing  deliberated  vpon  the  pmises,  disiDatched  away 
letters  declareing  theire  thankfull  acceptance  of  theire  kind  proffer,  and 
invited  the  comissioners  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Conecticut  (they  then 
being  in  the  bay)  &  some  other  gentlemen,  to  come  to  Plymouth  and 
aford  vs  theire  help;  and  accordingly  on  the  24th  of  September,  1G71, 
Mr.  John  Winthorpe,  Gour.  of  Conecticott,  Major  Generall  Leuerett, 
Mr.  Thomas  Danforth,  Captaine  Wilam  Dauis,  with  diuers  others,  came 
to  Plymouth,  and  had  a  faire  and  deliberate  hearing  of  the  controuersy 
between  our  CoUonie  and  the  said  sachen,  Phillip,  hee  being  psonally 
psent,  there  being  alsoe  competent  interpretors,  both  English  and  In- 
dians, att  which  meeting  it  was  proued  by  sufficient  testimony  to  the 
conviction  of  the  said  Phillip,  and  satisfaction  of  all  that  audience,  both 
the  said  gentlemen  and  others,  that  hee  had  broken  his  couenant  made 
with  our  coUonie  att  Taunton,  in  April  last,  in  diuers  pticulares,  as  alsoe 
carryed  very  vnkindly  vnto  us  diuers  wayes. 

1.  In  that  hee  detained  and  neglected  to  bring  in  the  resedue  of  his 
English  armes,  not  deliuered  att  Taunton,  according  tt>  his  engagement, 
and  that  notwithstanding  hee  was  allowed  competent  time,  yea,  bis 


320        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

time  enlarged,  yett  hee  neglected  as  aforesaid,  and  instead  of  bringing 
them  in,  improued  the  opperfcnnity  of  time  rather  to  make  them  out  of 
the  way. 

2.  That  hee  had  carryed  insolently  and  proudly  towards  vs  on 
seuerall  occations,  in  refusing  to  come  down  to  our  Court,  when  sent 
for  to  have  speech  with  him,  to  procure  a  right  understanding  of  matters 
in  difference  betwixt  vs. 

3.  That  hee  entertained,  harboured,  and  abetted  diners  Indians, 
not  of  his  owne  men,  which  were  vagabonds,  our  proffessed  enimies, 
who  leaning  their  own  sachem,  repaired  to  him  and  were  harboured. 

4.  That  notwithstanding  the  great  wronge  hee  had  done  vnto  vs  in 
these  and  such  like  respects,  instead  of  repairing  to  the  Court,  and  to 
endeauer  a  reconcilliation,  hee  takes  his  journey  into  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  with  seuerall  of  his  councell,  indeauoring  to  insinuate  himselfe 
into  the  majestrates,  and  to  misrepresent  matters  vnto  them,  whoe  are 
our  good  frinds  and  naighbors,  and  what  in  him  lay,  therby  to  work 
mischeife  and  difference  between  them  and  vs. 

5.  That  hee  had  shewed  great  inciuillitie  to  diners  of  ours  att  seuer- 
all times,  in  special  vnto  Mr.  James  Browne,  whoe  was  sent  by  the 
Court  on  speciall  occations  as  a  messenger  vnto  him,  and  vnto  Hugh 
Cole  att  another  time,  &c. 

The  gentlemen  forenamed,  takeing  notice  of  the  pmises,  haueing 
fully  heard  what  the  said  Phillip  could  say  for  himselfe,  haueing  free 
liberty  soe  to  doe  without  interruption!,  adjudged  that  hee  had  don  vs  a 
great  deal  of  wronge  and  injury  respecting  the  pmises,  and  alsoe  abused 
them  by  carrying  lyes  and  falce  stories  to  them,  and  soe  misrepresenting 
matters  vnto  them,  and  they  pswaded  him  to  make  an  acknowlidgment 
of  his  fault  and  to  seek  for  reconcilliation,  expressing  themselves  that 
there  is  a  great  difference  between  what  he  asserted  to  the  gou'ment  in 
the  Bay  and  what  hee  could  now  make  out  concerning  his  pretended 
wronges;  and  such  had  bine  the  wrong  and  damage  that  hee  had  done 
and  procured  vnto  the  coUonie  as  ought  not  to  be  bourne  without  com- 
petent repairation  and  satisfaction;  yea,  that  hee  by  his  insolencyes  had 
in  probabillitie  occationed  more  mischeife  from  the  Indians  amongst 
them  then  had  fallen  out  in  many  yeares  before;  they  pswaded  him 
therefore  to  humble  himselfe  vnto  the  majestrates,  and  to  amend 
his  wayes  if  hee  expected  peace,  and  that  if  hee  went  on  in  his 
refractory  way,  hee  must  expect  to  smart  for  it,  the  pticulares  whereof 
are  more  att  large  to  be  seen  in  a  full  discourse  between  our  majestrates 
and  the  gentlemen  aforesaid  and  him,  which  is  extant.  In  fine,  seuerall 
propositions  were  drawn  vj)  and  read,  every  which  hee  was  left  to  accept 
of  or  reject,  as  he  should  see  cause,  in  reference  vnto  his  entering  into  a 
new   couenant  with  vs;  and  alsoi;  in  reference  to  a  way  of  reparation  of 


APPENDIX.  .  321 

somo  pte  of  the  wron^js  doji  viito  ns,  the  contents  whereof  are  as  follow- 
eth,  hy  him  accepted  of  and  signed  vnto. 

New  Plymouth,  this  29th.  of  September,  1(»71. 

1.  Wee  Pliillip,  my  councell,  and  my  subjects,  doe  acknowledtfe 
onrselues  subjects  to  his  ma'tie  the  Kings  of  England,  &c.  and  the 
gou'ment  of  New  Plymouth,  and  to  theire  lawes. 

2.  I  am  willing  and  doe  promise  to  pay  vnto  the  gou'ment  of  New 
Plymouth  one  hundred  pounds  in  such  things  as  I  haue,  but  I  would 
entreat  the  fauor  that  I  might  haue  three  yeares  to  pay  it  in,  forasmuch 
as  I  can  not  doe  it  at  psent. 

3.  I  do  praise  to  send  in  to  the  Gour.  or  to  whom  hee  sliall  apijoint, 
fine  wolues  heads,  if  I  can  gett  them,  or  as  many  as  I  can  procure,  vntill 
they  come  to  the  number  of  fine  wolues  yearly. 

4.  If  any  difference  falls  between  the  English  and  my  selfe  or  people, 
then  I  doe  promise  to  repaire  to  the  (touv.  <>f  I'lyiiKuitli  to  rectify  the  dif- 
ference amongst  vs. 

.").  I  doe  promise  not  to  make  warr  witli  ;iiiy  but  witli  tlie  (iouernors 
approbation  of  New  Plymouth. 

(i.  I  promise  not  to  dispose  of  any  of  the  lands  that  I  haue  att 
l)resent.  but  by  the  approbation  of  the  gou'ment  of  New  Plymouth. 

For  the  true  pformance  of  the  pmises,  I.  the  said  Phillip  sachem  of 
Paukanaukett.  doe  heerl)y  bind  my  selfe  and  such  of  my  councell  as  are 
psent.  our  selues,  our  heires  and  successors,  faithfully  and  truely  to 
l)forme.  Tn  witness  heerof  wee  liane  heerunto  subscribed  our  hands  the 
day  and  yeare  abdue  written. 

The  marke     p     of  PHILLIP,  Sachem. 
The  marke     J     of  WOHKOWPAHENITT. 
The  marke  of     |     WATTAKOOSEEIM. 
The  marke  of     /     SONKANUHOO. 
The  marke  of     3-     WOONASHUM, 

allies  NIMROD. 
The  marke  of     Y     WOOSPASUCK, 

allies  CAPTAINE. 

In  the  presence  of  the  Court  and  diners  of  the  majestrates  and  other 
gentlemen  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Conecticut, — 

Takamunna,  a  sachem  att  Saconett,  appered  in  Court  this  third  of 
Xouember,  (71)  with  Phillip,  cheife  sachem,  and  did  engage  for  the  fu- 
ture that  hee.  vn«ler  the  said  Phillip,  would  stand  to  and  abide  by  the 
same  engagement  of  subjection  to  the  Kiuges  ma'tie  of  England,  this 
gou'ment  and  the  lawes  thereof,  with  other  articles  in  the  engagement, 
whereto  the  said  IMiillip  bath  suliscribed  as  aboue  said,  and  tliat  the  said 


322  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Takaimiiuia  shall  and  will  Itriiio  in  or  cause  to  be  brouglit  in  yearly  one 
Molfs  head  vnto  the  Treasurer;  T'liilli)),  alsoe,  the  said  eheife  sachem  did 
eujijajie  for  the  said  Takauiuunas  ptnnnance  of  the  said  en.ua^eineiit  in  all 
))(»iiits  thereof. 

In  witnes  wherot.  I.  the  said  Takamunna.  have  sett  my  han<l. 

The  niarke  of     Y     TAKA^rUXXA. 

The  progress  in  this  contiict  is  indicated  by  this  narrative. 

Plymouth  Commissioners  Presented  this  following: 

NARRATIVE  showing  the  manor  of  the   beginning  of  the  Present 

Warr  with  the  Indians  of  Mount  Hope  and  Pooassett: 

A  BRIEF  Xarratiue  of   the   begiiining  and  progress  of   the   present 

trouble  between  vs  and  the   Indians;  taking  its   Rise  in  the  (%)llonie  of 

X'^ew  Plymouth. 

Anno  Dom  lti75. 

Not  to  looke  backe  further  than  the  troubles  that  were  between  the 
Collonie  of  New  Plymouth  and  Philip  Sachem  of  mount  hope  In  the 
yeer  1671  It  may  be  Remembered  that  the  settlement  and  Issue  of  that 
controversye  obtained  and  made  principally  by  the  mediation  and  In- 
terposed advice  and  councell  of  the  other  two  confederate  C'ollonies. 
whoe  vpon  carefull  Inquiry  and  serch  into  the  grounds  of  that  trouble 
found  that  the  said  Sachems  pretence  of  wrongs  and  Injuries,  from  that 
(.'ollonie  were  (Iroundles  and  ffalce;  and  that  hee  (although  first  in 
Armes)  was  the  Pecant  and  offending  prty;  And  that  Plymouth  had 
Just  cause  to  take  vp  arms  against  him;  And  it  was  then  agreed  that  hee 
should  pay  that  Collonie  a  certain  sume  of  money,  in  prte  of  theire  dam- 
age and  charge  by  him  occationed;  and  hee  then  not  only  renewed  his 
ancient  couenant  of  friendship  with  them;  but  made  himself  and  his 
people  absolute  subjects  to  our  Sovr;  Lord  King  Charles  the  second; 
and  to  that  his  Collonie  of  New  Plymouth  since  which  time  wee  know 
not  that  the  English  of  that  or  any  other  of  the  Collonies  haue  binn  In- 
jurious to  him  or  his,  that  might  justly  provoake  them  to  take  vp  armes 
against  vs:  But  some  time  the  Last  winter  the  Cour.  of  Plymouth  was 
informed  by  Sassamon  a  faithful  Indian  that  the  said  Philip  was 
vndoubtedly  Indeauoring  to  Raise  new  troubles;  and  was  indeauoring  to 
engage  all  the  Sachems  round  about  in  a  warr  against  vs  some  of  the 
English  alsoe  that  lived  neare  the  .said  Sachem,  communicated  theire 
feares  and  Jealousyes  concurrant  with  what  the  Indian  had  Informed: 
about  a  week  after  .John  Sassamon  had  given  his  Information  hee  was 
barbarously  murdered  by  some  Indians  for  his  faithfulness  (as  we  haue 
cause  to  beleiue)  To  the  Interest  of  God  and  of  the  English;  sometime 
after  Sassamon' s  Death  Phillip  haueing  heard  that  the  Goui-.  of  Ply- 
mouth had  received  some  Information  against  him  and  purposed  to  send 
for  or  to  him  to  appeer  att  theire  Next  Court  that  they  miglit  Inquire 


APPENDIX.  323 

into  tlioso  Heports,  oamo  down  of  his  own  accord  to  Plymouth  a  little 
before  theire  Court,  in  the  beginning  of  March  last;  att  which  time  the 
("ouncell  of  that  f.'ollonie  vpon  a  large  debate  with  him:  had  great  Rea- 
son to  beliue  that  the  Information  against  him  might  be  in  substance 
true,  but  not  haueing  full  proffe  thereof  and  hoping  that  the  descoury 
of  it  so  far  would  cause  him  to  desist  they  dismissed  him  friendly; 
giueing  him  onley  to  vnderstand  that  if  they  heare  further  concerning 
that  matter  they  might  see  reason  to  demand  his  Amies  to  be  deliuered 
vp  for  their  securitie;  which  was  according  to  former  agreement  between 
him  and  them;  and  bee  Ingaged  on  theire  demand  they  should  be  sur- 
rendered vnto  them  or  theire  order:  Att  that  Court  we  had  many  In- 
dians in  examination  concerning  the  Murder  of  John  Sassomon  but  had 
not  then  testimony  in  the  case,  but  not  long  after  an  Indian  appeering 
to  testify;  we  apprehended  three  by  him  charged  to  be  the  murdei-ers 
of  Sassomon;  and  cecured  them  to  a  triall  att  our  next  Court  (holden  in 
June)  att  which  time  a  little  before  the  Court  Philip  began  to  keep  his 
men  in  Avmes  about  him  and  to  gather  strangers  vnto  him  and  to  march 
about  in  Amies  towards  the  vper  end  of  the  TS'ecke  on  which  hee  lined 
and  neare  to  the  English  houses;  whoe  began  thereby  to  be  somewhat 
disquieted,  but  tooke  as  yett  no  further  Jfotice  but  onely  to  sett  a  mill- 
etary  watch  in  the  next  Townes;  as  Swansea  and  Rehoboth  some  hints 
wee  had  that  Indians  were  in  Armes  whiles  our  Court  was  siting  but 
we  hoped  it  might  arise  from  a  guilty  feare  in  Philip;  that  we  would 
send  for  him  and  bring  him  to  tryall  with  the  other  Murderers;  and  that 
if  hee  saw  the  Court  broken  vp  and  he  not  sent  for;  the  cloud  might 
blow  ouer;  and  indeed  our  Innosensy  made  vs  very  secure  and  confident 
it  "would  not  bane  broken  out  into  a  warr  But  noe  sooner  was  our  Court 
desolued  but  we  had  Intelligence  from  Leift.  John  Browne  of  Swansey 
that  Philip  and  his  men  continewed  constantly  in  Armes,  many  Strang 
Indians  from  seuerall  places  flocked  into  him  and  that  they  sent  away 
their  wiues  to  Narragansett;  and  were  giuing  our  people  frequent  alarms 
by  drums  and  guns  in  the  night  and  Invaded  theire  passage  towards 
Plymouth ;  and  that  theire  young  Indians  were  earnest  for  a  warr;  on  the 
Tth  of  June  Mr.  Benjamine  Church  being  on  Rhod  Island;  Weetamo  and 
some  of  her  cheiffe  men  told  him  that  Phillip  Intended  a  warr  speedily 
with  the  English  some  of  them  saying  they  would  healp  him;  and  that 
hee  had  already  giuen  them  leaue  to  kill  English  mens  Cattle  and  Robb 
theire  houses;  about  the  14th  and  loth  of  June  Mr.  James  Browne  went 
twise  to  Philip  to  prswade  him  to  be  quiett  but  att  both  times  found 
his  men  in  armes  and  Phillip  very  high  and  not  pwsadable  to  peace;  on 
the  14th  June  our  Councell  wrot  an  amicable  friendly  letter  to  Phillip; 
therein  shewing  our  dislike  of  his  practices;  and  adviseing  him  to  dis- 
miss his  strange  Indians  and  command  his  own  men  to  fall  quietly  to 
theire  business  that  our  jieople  might  alsoe  be  quiett;  and  not  to  suffer 


324  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

himself  to  be  abused  by  Reports  concerning  vs,  wlioe  Intended  him  no 
wronge;  nor  liurt  towards  him;  but  Mi'.  Browne  could  not  obtain  an  an- 
sware  from  him;  on  the  17th  of  June  Mr.  Paine  of  Uehoboth  and  .seurall 
other  of  the  English  going  vnarmed  to  Mount  hope  to  seeke  theire  horses 
att  Phillips  request;  the  Indians  came  and  presented  their  guns  attthem 
and  carried  it  very  Insolently  tho  noe  way  prouoaked  by  them;  on  the 
18th  or  19th  Job  Wiuslow  his  house  was  broken  vp  aud  Rifled  by  Philips 
men;  June  20th  being  the  sabbath  the  people  att  Swansey  were  alarumed 
by  the  Indians  two  of  our  Inhabitants  burnt  out  of  their  hou.ses  and 
their  houses  Rifled;  and  the  Indians  were  marching  vp  as  they  Judged 
to  assault  the  Towne;  and  therefore  Intreated  speedy  healp  from  vs; 
Wee  heervpon  the  21  of  June  sent  vp  some  forces  to  relieue  that  towne 
and  despatched  more  with  speed;  on  weddensday  the  23  of  June  a  dozen 
more  of  their  houses  att  Swansey  were  Rifled;  on  the  24th  Thomas  Lay- 
ton  was  slaine  at  the  fall  Riuer;  on  2r)th  of  June  diners  of  the  people  att 
Swansey  slaine;  and  many  houses  burned;  vntil  which  time,  and  for  seu- 
erall  dales  tho  wee  had  a  considerable  Iforce  there  both  of  our  owne  and 
of  the  Massachusetts  (To  our  Grieffe  and  shame)  they  took  Noe  Revenge 
of  the  enimie;  thus  slow  were  wee  and  vnwilling  to  engage  ourselues 
and  naighbouts  in  a  warr;  hauing  many  Insolencyes  almost  Intollerable 
from  them,  of  whose  hands  we  had  deserued  better; 

The  substance  of  what  is  heer  declared  JOSIAH  WINSLOW. 

doth  clearly  more  prticularly  appeer  in  THOMAS  HINCKLEY, 

the  Records  and  letters  Related  unto  of 
the  seuerall  dates  aboue  mensioned; 

The  present  warr  owned  by  the  Commissioners  att  a  meeting  of  the 
Commissioners  of  the  united  Colonies  held  att  Boston  Septem:  9th,  1675. 

Wee  haueing  received  from  the  Commissioners  of  Plymouth  a  Nar- 
ratiue  showing  the  rise  and  seuerall  stepps  of  the  proceedings  of  that 
Collonie  as  to  the  pr.sentwarr  with  the  Indians;  which  had  its  begininge 
there;  and  its  progresse  into  the  Massachusetts;  by  their  Insolynces 
outrages;  murdering  many  persons  and  burning  theire  houses  in  sundry 
plantations  in  both  Collonies:  and  haueing  duly  considered  the  same 
doe  declare  that  the  said  warr  doth  a])peer  to  be  both  Just  and  Nesses- 
sarie;  in  its  first  Rise  a  defensiue  warr;  and  therefore  wee  doe  agree 
and  conclude  that  it  ought  now  to  be  Joyntly  prosecuted  by  all  the 
vnited  Collonies;  and  the  charges  thereof  to  be  ])()urne  and  payed  as  is 
agreed  in  the  articles  of  Confederation. 

THOMAS  DANFORTH, 
JOHN  WINTIIROPE.  WILLIAM  STAUGHTON. 

JAMES  RICHARDS.  JOSIAII  WINSLOW, 

THOMAS  HINCKLEY. 


APPENDIX.  325 

The  Cuinniissioiicrs  of  llic  Collunies  haucini;"  lully  coiicuncd  in  the 
l^i^htcoll.sllc^ss  of  the  i)r.scut  w;ur  with  the  Barbarous  Natiues  for  the 
bettor  Mauasenient  thereof  doe  aj'ree  and  eou elude  that  there  be  forth- 
with liaised  a  Thousand  souldiers  wliereof  500  to  be  Dragoones  or 
troopers  witli  h>nge  Arines  out  of  tlie  seuerall  Collonies  in  sueh  propor- 
tion as  tiie  Articles  of  Confederation  doe  appoint: 

The  Massachusetts,  .">2T) 
Plymouth,     -     -    -    !••)«) lOOO 
("onecticot     -     -    -    r,!")) 
[I'ly.  Col.  Com.  llec.  Vol.  11,  p.  :;(;2.  | 


APPENDIX  T. 

[IMgc  48.] 

I'his  rciiiarkablc  letter  was  in  these  words  : 

Taunton.  Ai>ril  I").  "T'l. 
Ilonorcil  ;ni(l  l>clo\ed : 

We  have  received  your  affectiitnate  letter  full  of  Love  and  undeserved 
bountie  towai'ds  us,  your  unworthy  Hretbren  and  neiyldiors.  and  we  bless 
(rod  that  He  bath  ^iven  us  soe  niucli  room  in  ymir  hearts,  tiiat  you  soe 
freely  tender  us  a  part  with  you  in  your  bouses,  fields  and  i)rovisions.  at 
sucli  a  time  when  the  Lord  is  threatening  us  with  bereavement  of  our 
own.  It  much  comfortetb  us  in  this  day  of  darkness  and  distresse;  we 
assuring;'  (nirselves  thereby,  that  if  our  distresses  continue  and  increase, 
wi'  slnvll  want  noe  succor  you  are  able  to  afford  us.  We  therefore  return 
you  all  serious  thanks  for  your  syneere  and  abundant  Love,  beseechiun 
the  Lord  still  to  continue  and  increase  your  peace,  and  abilitie  and  readi- 
ness to  relieve  the  distresses  in  this  evil  daye.  Nevertlieless,  upon  our 
serious  and  mature  deliberation  upon  and  eoiisideratit)n  of  your  soe  great 
offer,  we  cannot  at  present  comply  with  a  motion  to  remove  and  qnitt  our 
places,  and  leave  our  habitations  to  be  a  desolation,  and  that  because  we 
fear  we  shovUd  in  soe  doing  be  wanting  to  the  name  of  God  and  the  inter- 
est of  Christ  in  this  idace,  and  bewraye  much  diffidence  and  cowardice, 
and  give  the  adversarye  occasion  of  triumph  over  us,  to  ye  reproach  of 
that  great  and  fearfull  name  of  our  (iod,  that  is  called  on  us.  Onr  sins 
are  already  such  as  might  render  our  friends  (did  they  k)n)w  us)  affraid 
to  entertain  us:  and  what  can  we  expect  as  the  issue  of  such  an  addition 
thereunto,  but  that  the  hand  of  flic  Lord  would  follow  us.  and  tiiid  us 
out  whithersoevei'  we  lied. 


■326  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

■'Besides,  if  the  Jjonl  have  any  pleasure  in  us,  and  will  sue  fair 
favour  and  honour  us,  we  judj^e  we  may  here  he  more  serviceahle  to  ye 
country  than  elsewhere,  and  hazzards  of  removal  (as  great  as  of  abiding 
where  we  are)  avoided ;  and  who  can  tell,  but  that  the  Lord  may  make 
way  for  our  enjoyment  of  seed  time  and  liarvest  here,  by  prospering'  our 
forces  which  are  coming  forth,  if  we  could  but  humble  ourselves  before 
Him?  And  if  the  Lord  have  no  delight  at  all  in  us.  l)ut  will  for  our  sins 
(Avhich  were  but  just)  make  His  dwelling  place  here  as  tshiloh,  we  are  in 
His  hands.  The  Lord  do  with  us  as  seemeth  good  in  His  sight.  Here 
we  have  sinned,  and  here  we  submit  oiu'selves  to  suffer,  except  the  Lord's 
Pi'Ovidence,  and  order  or  advice  of  Authorities  shoidd  plainly  determine 
us  to  removall:  in  case  whereof,  we  shall  esteem  it  an  undeserved  kind- 
ness to  find  shelter  among  yourselves,  and  comply  with  your  motion  for 
aught  yet  appears,  more  generally  than  with  any  course  we  can  proi)ose 
to  ourselves:  Asa  pledge  whereof  we  are  willing,  if  it  may  be  judged 
cnmcnient  by  y<ni,  to  secure  sonu-  of  our  cattle  in  your  i)arts,  that  they 
may  be  no  l)ooty  or  succorto  the  enemy,  if  the  Lord  si)ai'e  them  so  long 
as  that  we  may  iiave  opportunity  to  convey  them,  in  which  wc  desire 
your  speedy  advice.  And  beseeching  you  not  to  cease  to  pray  for  us  that 
tlie  Lord  would  heal  our  backslidings.  and  prepare  us  for  what  measure 
of  the  cup  of  His  indignation  it  may  seem  good  to  Him  to  order  us  to 
drink,  we  present  you  with  our  resjiects,  service,  and  love,  and  subscribe 
ourselves  your  obliged  brethren  and  friends  and  servants  in  yc  Lord. 

To  this  we  subscribe  in  the  name  of  the  Town. 

KICHAHI)   WILLIA.MS. 
WALTER  UEANE, 
GEORGE  MACY, 
WILL  ILiliVEV. 

(Hinckley  I'aiicrs  Vol.  11.  \o.  :;.) 


APPENDIX   U. 

[I'iigc  4').] 


As  early  as  1663  "It  was  proposed  by  the  Court  vnto  the 
seuerall  Townships  of  this  jurisdiction  as  a  Ihin^-  that  ihey  ought 
to  take  into  Llieir  serious  consideration    that    some  course  may  be 


APPENDIX.  327 

taken  that  in  euery  townc  there  nia\-  bee  a  Sehouhnaster  sell  vp 
to  traine  vp  children  to  reading  and  writing.'" 

(XI  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  20.) 

Plymouth  established  the  first  free  school,  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  which  the  profits  of  the  Cape  rishery  were  at  first 
devoted  (XI  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  2^;^  and  237);  but  in  1677  a  General 
law  was  passed  establishing  a  grammar  school  in  the  larger  towns: 
a  copy  of  which  is  here  given. 

•' At  the  (ieiitTiil  Court,    lu'ld  ;it    Plviiioutli.   tlu-  tiist  of  .N'oveinbcr. 


■■  Foiiisnuic-li  as  tlie  niaintt-nauce  of  jiood  literature  dotli  nuieli  teud 
to  tlie  advancement  uf  the  weal  and  flourishing'  state  of  societies  and  re- 
publics, this  court  doth  therefore  ordei'.  that  in  whatever  township  in 
this  government,  con.sisting  of  fifty  families  oi'  ui)wards,  any  meet  man 
shall  he  oI>tained  to  teach  a  grammar  scluxtl,  such  township  shall  allow 
an  least  twelve  pounds,  in  current  merchautalde  pay,  to  he  raised  by  rate 
on  all  the  inhabitants  of  such  township;  and  those  that  have  the  more 
immediate  benefit  thereof,  by  their  children's  going  to  school,  with  what 
others  may  voluiitai-ily  give  to  promote  so  good  a  work  and  general  good, 
sliall  nr.ike  up  the  residue  necessary  to  maintain  the  same,  and  that  tlu- 
l)rotits  arising  of  the  cape  fishing,  lieretoft)re  ordered  to  maintain  a  gram- 
mar school  in  this  colony,  be  distributed  to  such  towns  as  have  giammar 
schools,  for  the  maintenance  thereof,  not  exceeding  hve  pouiuls  per 
annum  to  any  such  town,  unless  the  court  treasiuer  or  other  appointed 
to  manage  that  affair,  see  good  cause  to  add  thereunto,  to  any  respective 
town,  not  exceeding  five  pounds  more  pci' ann.  And  further,  this  court 
orders,  that  every  such  town  as  consists  of  seventy  families,  oi-  upwards, 
and  hath  nt)t  a  grammar  school  therein,  shall  allow  and  pay  unto  the 
next  town,  whicli  hath  such  grammar  school  kept  up  anumg  them,  the 
sum  of  ti\('  p(uuuls  per  anu.  in  currt'ut  merchantable  pay,  to  be  levicfl  on 
tiic  inlial)itants  of  such  towns  l)y  rate,  aiul  gathered  and  delivered  by  the 
constables  of  such  towns,  as  by  warrant  from  any  magistrate  of  this  ju- 
risdiction shall  be  rcipiired.  (Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  2(1  Series.  Vol.  4.  p.  s:j. 
XI  Ply.  Col.  Rec.  p.  247.) 

In  .Mai'cli.  KiSi'.  tiic  Court  divided  the  c;ii>c  fishery  money  as  follows: 
■"to  l>arnstablc  scooh'.  tweluc  pound;  to  Duxburrow  scoole,  eight  pound: 
to  Kchoboth  scooh".  Hue  ])oun<l;  to  Tamiton  scoole.  three  pound:  and 
two  jMuiiid  to  Mr.  Dauicl  Suiith.  "      (N'll'ly.  Col.  Kcc.  p.  102.) 


328  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL     CELEBRATION. 

APPENDIX  V. 

irasie  50,] 

The  Commission  of  Gov.  Andros  from  King  James  II,  dated 
June  3,  i686,  may  be  found  in  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  3d  Series,  Vol. 
7,  p.  139.  The  tax  which  produced  such  excitement  in  the  Colon- 
ies was  levied  the  next  January  as  appears  in  the  following  order: 

.Iiinuarv  tlio  4th  KiSli. 

* 

Ordered:     That  a  sinj;le  Country   IJate  ot  one  penny  in  tlie  pound  l)e 
Icvyed  &  collected  in  all  the  late  ("olonyes  and  Provinces  towards  defray- 
ing the  publick  charge  of  tins  liis  Majt*^**  (Government. 
.January  the  I2th  108(1 

"Ordered:  That  the  Secretary  send  the  order  of  ('ouncill  of  the  4tli 
instant  to  the  Treasurer  for  Ccdlecting  the  Hate  to  his  Majtif,  and  that  the 
T'reasnrei' issue  out  his  Warrants  for  collecting  the  same  accordingly. "" 

The  treasurer  at  that  time  was  Mr.  John  Usher. 

The  letter  of  Mr.  Wilbore  to  Mr.  Usher,  referred  to  in  the 
address  has  not  been  found,  but  it  produced  the  following  order 
from  (iov.  Andros  and  his  Council. 

"Sliadrach  Wilbore  Clerke  of  tlie  Towne  of  'I'annton  being  by  the  Mes- 
senger brouglit  before  this  Hoard  and  Examined  al)outa  scandalous  fac- 
tions and  seditious  writeing  sent  from  the  said  Towne  to  the  Treasurer 
in  answer  to  his  Warr'  for  the  publique  Hate  signed  by  him  as  ("lerke  he 
owned  the  same  and  declared  it  to  be  the  Act  of  the  Towne. 

Ordered  That  the  said  Shadrach  Wilbore  be  bound  over  to  answer 
for  the  same  att  the  next  superior  ('ourt  to  be  holden  att  Bristoll. 

And  that  in  reguard  Justice  Tlio.  Leonard  was  present  att  the  Towne 
nu-eting  when  the  said  writeing  was  voted  and  did  not  hincU'r  tbc  sauic. 
that  lK^  be  sus])ended  from  the  said  Orticc. 

And  tiiat  the  Constables  of  tlic  said  'I'ownc  be  Hkcwisc  bound  over  to 
answer  att  the  said  Coiu-t  fov  neglect  of  their  dntycs  in  not  olicying  the 
Treasurers  warrant. 

And  tiiat  the  Constables  and  Select  .Men  of  tlie  .said  Towne  doc  fortli- 
with  cause  the  said  warrant  to  be  fully  executed.  (.Meeting  held  Wednes- 
day .\ngust  Mist  KiST.  "■) 

(State  .Vrch.  Vol.  l-_'7,  p.  •")'.'.     Council  i;c((.rds  \'ol.  •_'.  p.  |:;T.) 

This  order  was  followed  on  the  same  day  by  a  warrant  for 
^\'i!l)ore"s  arrest,  as  follows; 


APPENDIX.  329 

To  yc  Slicn-itT  of  ye  County  of  Suffolk. 

Wlicrcas  Sliiulracli  Wilhorf,  Towue  Clcikc  of  'rauiifoii,  liafli  lately  in  yc 
name  &  with  ye  Consent  of  yc  sd  Townc  Wrote  &  i)ul)li.s]uMl  a  certain 
Scandalou.s  factiou.s  &  Seditious  \viitein<;,  Therein  veiy  niucli  Ivellectinji' 
njxm  and  Contanmeinf;- the  Laws  Autlun-ity  &  (xovenmt  of  this  his  Mats'y 
territory  &  Dominion  of  New  England  the  such  writeing  upon  his  Exam- 
ination hefore  his  Excellency  in  Councill  lie  liath  Confessed  &  Owned: 
these  are  therefore  in  his  Mats'y  Name  to  He(jnire  &  Command  yo  to  take 
into  your  Custody  ye  hody  of  ye  said  Shadrach  Wilbore  tV:  him  safely  keep 
in  his  Mats"y  (ioals  untill  he  shall  Inive  answered  for  ye  sd  Contempt  A- 
MisDemeanoi-,  &  be  from  thence  Delivered  by  due  Conrse  of  his  Mats"y 
Laws.  Whei'eof  fail  not  cV:  for  soe  doing  this  shall  be  your  Wanant 
Dated  in  l3ost(ui  ye  oOth  day  of  August  IfiST. 

JJy  ( )rder  in  <  duncill. 
(Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  •■'.d  Series.  Vol.  T.  p.  I'.td.) 

Mr.  Wilbore,  after  having  been    awhile    in    jail  al  Hristol,  the 
then  shire  town,  wrote  this  letter  and  petition  to  the  Governor: 

"The  humble  petition  of  Shadraidi  Wilbore,  of  Taunton,  Town 
Clarke,  To  his  Excellency,  Sir  Edmond  Andrews,  Knight  Governor-in- 
Cliief  of  his  Majesty's  Territory  and  dominion  in  New  England. 

*' Humbly  sheweth  that  whereas  your  petitioner  (but  as  a  .servant) 
did  in  the  name,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Town  of  Taunton  (as 
Townc  Clarke)  as  by  virtue  of  his  office  judged  himself  obliged  to  do, 
did  write  a  letter  to  John  Usher,  Esq.,  the  contents  of  said  letter  or 
writing  proving  very  offensive  to  authority  for  which  your  petitioner  is 
very  sorry  that  he  should  give  any  cause  of  offence  to  any,  either  by 
writing  or  any  other  way,  for  it  was  not  in  any  way  intended  by  your 
petitioner  either  to  offend  your  Excellencj'  or  the  government  his  Maj- 
esty hath  set  over  ns,  and  therefore  wherein  your  petitioner  hath  offend- 
ed any  person  he  craveth  their  pardon,  entreating  your  Excellency  to 
imi)ute  the  offensiveness  of  said  writing  to  the  ignor.ance,  weakness  and 
unskilfuhiess  of  your  poor  petitioner  as  to  law  matters,  entreating  your 
Excellency  to  grant  your  poor  petitioner  a  gracious  pardon  as  to  hon- 
ourable Court's  sentence  against  him  here  at  Bristol  and  remit  it,  or 
what  of  it  your  Excellency  shall  think  fit,  beseeching  your  Excellency 
to  consider  what  your  poor  petitioner  hath  suffered  both  at  Boston  and 
also  here  at  Bristol,— at  Boston  his  imprisonment  there  and  charges  for 
a  relejise  out  of  prison,  and  here  at  Bristol,  it  being  five  weeks  since  he 
was  first  committed  to  prison,  entreating  your  Excellency  to  consider 
the  inability  of  your  poor  petitioner  and  the  time  of  the  year  (it  being 
very  cold  for  a  poor  prisoner)  and  alsoe  his  low  estate  and  a  great  family 
of  children  (not  needful  to  say  the  Town  of  Taunton  hath  already  an- 
.swered  the  matter  then  in  (juestion)  and  for  the  future  your  petitioner 


330  OUAKTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

lutjics  lie  shall  he  more  caiefiil  what  he  writes.  So  craving  your  itardon 
for  si^'i'i^  your  Excellency  the  trouble  ot  readiuj;-  these  Hues,  liopiug  lor 
your  Exccllcney'.s  gracious  Answer  shall  rest  your  liunihle  petitioner. 

Shaduach  Wilbouk. 
"  Bristol  the  I4th  of  November,  KiST. 
IState  Arch.  Arch.  Vol.  127.  )).  2m.] 

In  1689,  the  town  voted  to   renuuierate   .Mr.  W'ilbore  in  these 
words : 

•■ThisiM  (lay  of  Xovemliei-.  liiS'.i.  It  was  voted  and  graided  to  Sliad- 
racli  Wilbore,  the  town  Clerk,  one  hundred  acres  of  land  joining  to  his 
land  at  Bareneed.  or  somewhere  thereabout,  in  consideration  (tf  his  im- 
prisonment and  sutfcring,  ho  paying  what  money  is  due  at  that  account, 
which  is  to  say  the  live  and  forty  shillings  which  we  borrowed  of  Wiliam 
Wilbore  of  KlK.de  Island.  "" 


APPENDIX  W, 

(rjige  5L) 


Province  Laws.  IT-MMio.  Ch.  :!(>. — An  act  for  raising  a  sum  of  money 
by  lottery.  foi-  lemoving  the  rocks  and  shoals  in  Taunton  (ireat  Kivi-r. 
and  thereby  to  render  the  iia\igation  in  said  livcr  more  easy  and  less 
liazardcuis. 

Whereas  the  navigation  in  Taunton  (ireat  Kiver.  Ix-tween  (the)  Ware 
Bridge  and  Bocky  I'oint.  is  much  ol)stru(te(l  and  straightened  by  reason 
of  divers  rocks  and  shoals  in  said  river,  and  vessels  are  often  sunk  by 
running  on  the  rocks  between  tlie  said  liridgc  and  Rocky  ]^)int.  to  the 
great  i)rejndicc  not  only  of  trade  in  general.  l)nt  to  those  i»articuhir  i)er- 
sons  who  have  occasion  to  transport  their  lundier  an<l  other  commodities 
up  and  down  said  river  tor  a  market:  to  the  end.  therefore,  that  those 
obstructions  may  be  removed,  and  the  navigation  in  said  rivi-r  lendercd 
more  easy  and  less  hazardous. — 

Be  it  enacted  liy  tlic  (ioxcrnour.  (dinicil  and  iioiisc  of  Bi'presenta- 
tives. 

(Sect.  L)  TJiat  .buncs  W'illiauis.  i';s.|(r).  Cajit.  (;eorge  Willams.  Mr.  Rob- 
ert Lnscondi  and  Mr.  .lolin  Ailanis.  all  of  Taunt(Ui.  and  .Mr.  Stci>hen 
Bull  of  Berkley,  or  an>  three  of  tlieni.  be  and  hereliy  arc  imixiwered  to 
set  up  and  <ari>-  on  one  or  more  lottery  oj-  lotteries,  amounting  in  the 
whole  to  snrb  a  sum  as.  by  drawing  oi'  deilucting  ten   percent  out  of  I  lie 


API'KNDIX. 


331 


same,  may  raise  tlui'i-  Iiimdrcd  mikI  lilty  pounds,  and  no  moir:  and  tlia) 
the  said  sum  of  tlireo  iiundied  and  lilt y  jiouuds.  laised  by  the  d('du<'tion 
ai'oiesaid.  \h\  by  tlio  pei'soiis  above  named,  paid  lo  Messieurs  .lanu-s 
Walker,  Israel  Tisdale  and  Stephen  Maeomber.  a  committee  appointed 
for  the  purposes  in  this  act  mentioned,  within  ten  days  after  the  sale  of 
the  tickets  of  said  battery  siiall  be  compleated.  takin<i'  their  receii)t  foj- 
the  same:  or.  if  the  persons  first  above  named  shall  thiidv  lit  to  raise  said 
sum  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  by  more  lotteries  than  one.  then 
the  money  rai-sed  by  each  lotteiy.  by  tlic  deduetion  afore.said,  shall. 
within  ten  days  after  the  tickets  of  each  lottery,  respectively,  are  sold,  be 
]iaid  by  them  to  the  committee  aforesaid,  or  the  major  part  of  them. 
[The  other  sections  of  the  act  are  omitted.] 

A  copy  of  the  ticket-s  issued  is  here  gi\en  : 


1^^ 


'Taitlltoil   Lottery,  N"  Onc  JA/i'  1760 

>^r^H IS  Ticket  [No.  1100  ]  intitles  the 
Poffeffor  to  any  Prize  drawn  againft  laid 
Number,  in  a  LOTTERY  granted  by  an  Act 
of  the  General  Court  of  the  Province  of  the  M(^f- 
fac/iuf efts-Bay,  April  1760,  for  removing  the 
Rocks  and  Shoals  in  Taunton  (ireat  River,  and 
to  make  the  Na\igation  more  eafy  and  lefs  ha- 
zardous, fubjecl  to  no  Deduction.  E 


<s^^jrsgi»'s- 


^.•^^/^.^^W 


5^ 


"i^ 


APPENDIX  X. 


[Page  52.1 

In  March  1707  many  inhabitants  of  the  northerly  part  of 
T.iunton,  sent  a  petition  to  the  town  to  bound  them  out  a  "pre- 
cinck,"  as  follows  . 


332  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

■' Wc  whoso  names  arc  underwritten,  beinj^  part  of  the  Inliabitants 
ol  Taunton  Old  Town,  and  part  of  Taunton  north  purchase,  bcinj;'  all 
very  sensible  of  the  <?reat  difficulty  that  we  are  under  in  livini;'  so  re- 
mote from  the  publick  worship  of  God.  and  great  need  of  haveing  it  s(!t- 
tled  amongst  us,  that  so  our  children  and  those  under  our  care  &  charge, 
as  well  as  ourselves,  may  enjoy  the  meens  of  grace,  and  in  order  theirto, 
we  have  this  27th  day  of  novem.,  1707,  met  together,  and  made  choice  of 
(Jeorge  Leonard  and  Nicholas  White,  whom  we  chuse  as  our  agents  to 
act  in  our  behalf  in  makeing  Request  to  the  town  to  bound  us  out  a  pre- 
sink  for  the  maintenance  of  a  minister;  and  that,  when  we  have  ])ro- 
curcd  a  minister  to  dispence  the  word  of  God  amongst  (us)  we  might  be 
freed  from  paying  to  the  minister  &  Schoolmaster  at  town,  and  we  do 
also  give  our  sd.  agents  full  power  to  do  any  further  act  or  acts,  thing  or 
things,  that  they  shall  see  needfull  to  be  dun  for  ye  bounding  of  sd.  pre- 
cink,  and  procureing  an  able  orthodox  minister  to  be  orderly  Settled 
amongst  us,  whether  it  be  by  petitioning  to  the  General  court  to  Settle 
the  bounds  of  sd.  precinck,  or  by  any  other  way  or  meens  whatsoever;  as 
witness  our  hands  the  day  and  year  above  written,  we  further  promise, 
that  in  case  a  minister  be  procured  as  abovesd.,  that  we  will  each  of  us 
pay  our  proportion  by  way  of  rate  for  his  maintenance,  witness  our 
hands,  George  Leonard,  Nicholas  White,  Thomas  Braman,  sen.,  Thomas 
Stevens,  Selvanis  Gamble,  .John  Hodges,  Nathaniell  Hodges,  Samuell 
Hodges,  Jabez  Pratt.  Thomas  Braman.  jun..  William  Hodges,  Robert 
Tucker,  Ei)lnaim  (Jrover,  Matthew  White.  Seth  Doinian,  Ebenezer  Hall, 
John  Caswell,  jun.,  Benjamin  Caswell.  John  Wetherell,  Ebenezei-  Edy, 
Samuel  Brintness,  John  Caswell,  sen.,  Eliezer  Edy,  John  Cob,  Andiew 
Grover,  Peter  Aldrich,  Israel  Fisher,  Thomas  (trover,  Nathaniel  Fisher, 
Joseph  Briggs,  Benjamin  Williams,  Nathaniel  Harvey,  John  Briggs. 
jun..  Nicholas  Smith,  John  Newland.  William  Cob,  Benjamin  Newland. 
John  Lane,  John  Briggs, ^John  Skinner."' 

[State  Papers,  Vol.  CXIII,  p.  r,l2.] 

George  Leonard  and  Nichola.s  White  were  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  presenl^their  request  to  the  town,  to  whom  on  March  22. 
170S,  afterward,  Mr.  John  Wetherell  was  added  by  a  portion  of  the 
subscribers,  the  significance  of  which  soon  appears. 

The  very  ne.xt  day  the  committee  drew  up  and  sent  this  peti- 
tion ]to  the  town  : 

"March  ye  2:)rd,  17iis.— Whereas  divers  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  north 
purchase,  together  with  divers  of  the  Inhabitants  of  'i'aunton  old  town- 
ship, bordering  on  the  north  ])urtliase,  made  (choice  of  we.  the  subscrib- 
eis,  whomc'they  chose  as  thare  Agents  to  make  reqiu'st  to  the  town  to 
bound  us  out  a  precinct  for  the  maintenance  of  a   minister;  we  whose 


APPENDIX.  333 

names  are  underwritten,  do  therefore,  in  the  behalt  of  our  friends  and 
neiglibours,  humbly  and  earnestly  desire  the  town  seiiously  to  consider 
of  the  vary  difficult  circumstances  that  we  are  under  in  liveingso  remote 
from  the  publicque  worship  of  Gad.  that  great  part  of  the  year  we  can- 
not come  to  nieetiufj;  and  that  we  can  at  no  time  of  the  year,  without 
very  gieat  difficulty  brinj",'  allmost  any  of  our  children  to  meeting';  so  that, 
if  we  continue  lono- after  this  manner,  thesowls  of  our  children,  and  those 
under  our  care  and  charge,  will  be  in  danger  of  perishing  for  lack  of 
knowledge,  for  it  is  Evident  from  scripture  that  faith  comes  by  heering, 
and  heering  by  the  word  preacht.  Tho  we  are  not  insencable  of  our 
poverty,  and  great  difficulty  tliat  we  shall  thereby  meet  with  in  carrying 
on  such  a  desire,  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  we  have  cans  to  be  thankfull 
that  our  neighbours  are  generally  very  forward  to  promote  so  good  a 
work;  and  our  poverty  can  be  no  Argument  to  have  our  precincklesened 
but  rather  Enlarged,  wharefore  we  Earnestly  desire  and  hope  that  the 
town  will  forward  and  incorageso  good  a  design,  and  grant  that  the  mili- 
tary line  may  be  the  bounds  of  the  precinct,  which  is  hurt's  brook,  and 
from  the  mouth  of  sd.  brook  to  the  bridge  neer  william  wetherell,  and 
from  sd.  bridge  north  Easterly  to  the  north-purchase  line;  that  so  we 
may  not  have  one  line  for  tlie  military,  and  another  for  the  minister, 
and,  in  hopes  you  will  grant  us  this  our  recjuest,  we  subscribe  ourselves 
your  humble  petitioners, 

GEORGE  LEONARD. 
JOHN  WETHERELL, 
NICHOLAS  WHITE." 
[State  Papers,  Vol.  GXIH.  p.  5i:i| 

The  town  not  inclining  to  grant  the  request. 

"  June  18,  170.S. — At  a  meeting  of  some  of  the  subsciibers,  they  gave 
thare  agents  Liberty  to  pertition  to  the  Genl.  court  for  a  township." 

Accordingly  on  the  20  Oct.,  1708,  two  of  the  Committt'e  pre- 
sented this  petition  to  Gov.  Dudley  : 

"To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esquire,  Capt.-Generall  and 
<rovernor-in-chief  in  and  over  her  majestie's  province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts bay  in  New  England;  And  to  the  Honored  councill  and  Representa- 
tives now  convened  in  Generall  Court  this  20  day  of  October,  ITdS. 

"The  humble  petition  of  Diverse  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taunton 
North  purchase,  humbly  sheweth  that  sd.  Inhabitants  being  very  sensi- 
ble of  the  great  difficulty  they  are  now  under  in  living  so  remote  from 
the  publick  worship  of  God,  and  the  great  need  of  having  it  settled 
amongst  them,  that  so  their  children,  and  those  under  their  care  and 
cliarge.   as   well    as   themselves,  may  Injoy  the   meens  of   Grace,  They 


334  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

make  clioice  of  us  the  subscribers,  to  be  their  aoents,  to  make  known 
their  desire  to  the  town  of  Taunton  to  have  a  precinct  bounded  out  to 
them  for  their  maintenance  of  a  minister  to  dispence  the  word  of  God 
among  them;  and  also  to  petition  the  Ueneiall  Court  to  settle  the  bounds 
of  sd.  precinct;  and  also  to  procure  an  able  orthodox  minister  to  be  order- 
ly settled  a,mon(f  them,  as  they  appear  by  a  writeing  under  their  hands, 
dated  November  the  27th,  1707,  and  also  on  the  2:^d  of  march,  1708;  by 
which  writing  they  also  promise  to  pay  their  proportion  by  way  of  rate 
for  the  maintenance  of  said  minister  provided  as  abovesd.  In  persne- 
ance  of  sd.  i*ower  and  trust  commited  to  us,  we  have  communicated  this 
matter  to  the  town  of  Taunton,  at  a  town  meeting;  and  although  we 
ha.ve  great  Incoragement  that  the  most  considerable  Leading  men  will  be 
and  are  for  it,  yet  there  is  some  few  that  do  hesitate  about  the  bounds 
'I'hat  we  desire  for  sd.  precinct;  so  that  lietherto  nothing  of  that  nature 
is  finished,  and  seeing  our  young  ones  increase  and  grow  up  apace,  and 
that  the  Lord  hath  in  marcy  (as  we  hope  it  is  in  marcy)  so  inclined  the 
hearts  of  our  neighbors  to  earnestly  to  desire  and  seek  after  this  thing, 
we  therefore,  the  subscribers  as  agents  for  and  in  the  behalf  of  sd.  In- 
habitants, do  humbly  pray  this  (Tcnerall  Court  to  grant  this  our  humble 
]>ctition,  and  the  bounds  of  said  precinct  which  we  desire  is,  the  line  or 
l)ounds  of  the  military  company  called  the  North  purchase  company 
may  be  the  bounds  of  the  said  precinct,  which  is  a  brook  called  hurt's 
brook,  and  from  the  mouth  of  said  brook  to  wennaconnit  bridge,  and 
from  sd.  bridge  north-easterd  to  the  North-purchase  line,  but  leaveing 
out  of  sd.  precinct  all  the  Inhabitants  in  the  North  purchase  that  com- 
monly go  to  Bridgewater  meeting,  who  live  on  the  Estardly  side  of  the 
rhode  that  Leeadeth  from  winnacunnit  to  the  bay, — for  they  in  time 
hope  to  be  a  precinct  with  part  of  Bridgewater,  which  we  shall  not  op- 
pose—but taking  into  sd.  precinct  all  belonging  to  Taunton  old  Town- 
ship within  the  bounds  above  mentioned,  but  if  all  the  North  purchase 
ware  Enexed  to  Taunton  for  the  present,  we  think  it  woald  be  best  for 
the  manageing  of  public  concerns;  only  that  the  lands  within  the  bounds 
settled  and  agreed  on  between  the  propi-iators  of  Taunton  North  ])ur- 
(diase  and  thair  neighbors,  on  all  parts,  be  confirmed  to  said  proprie- 
tors, and  the  abovesaid  precinct  settled  for  the  maintenance  of  the  min- 
istry in  said  precinct,  and  we  farther  pray  that  this  honored  court  would 
also  appoint  a.  committee  to  order  where  the  meeting-house  should  be 
sett,  all  which,  if  this  honored  court  please  to  grant,  your  humble  peti- 
tioners shall,  as  in  duty  they  are  bound,  ever  pray. 

GEORGE  LEONARD,  (  Agents  for  and  in  thebe- 
NICHOLAS  WHITE,    (  half  of  said  Inhabitants. 

IStatc  Papers,  Vol.  CXllI.  ]>.  .MO.  | 

( )n  lliis  petition  the  (leneral  Court  made  this  order: 


APPENDIX.  335 

••  22  Ootn..  17i>s — Read  in  Coimcil:   and   Orden^iJ,  that  the  Selectmen 
of  Taunton  be  served  with  a  copy  of   this  Peton.,  and  lieard  thereupon 
before  rliis  Court  ui)on  the  second  'I'uesday  of  the  next  Session  of  ye  sd. 
<:ourt,  if  anything  they  liave  to   say  why  tlie   i>rayer  of  tlie  witliin  Peti- 
tion sliould  not  be  frranted." 

ISA.   ADDINdTON,  Seery. 

[(ieneral-Court  Records.   Vol.  VIII.  p.  8!>].| 

The  service  of  this  petition  on  tlie  town  led  to  a  town  meet- 
in  <;■  as  follows  : 

Taunton,  Feb.  ye  first  day,  1708-'.). — Whereas  ye  selectmen  of  our 
town  was  served  with  a  coi)py  of  ye  North  purchas  and  South  purchas 
petitions,  and  they  caused  ye  town  to  meet  toojether  this  day,  and  I.'ead 
thayr  petitions  in  ye  town-meatintj.  when  matters  was  fairly  <lebated; 
and  there  being  many  men  of  many  minds,  so  that  nothinf'  was  con- 
cluded on,  only  some  jiersons  would  have  ye  selectmen  to  take  thayr 
time,  and  write  ye  Court  an  answer. 

So  the  assembly  ware  dismissed. 

"JOHN  UTLBOKE,  Town  Cleik.  " 
This  inaction  naturally  called  for  another  meeting,  thus  stated: 

•'  At  a  Legall  Town-meeting',  warned  and  held  at  Taunton  publick 
meeting-house,  the  22  day  of  February,  1708-9.  It  was  voted  that  the 
town  doth  Impower  the  present  selectmen  to  make  return  to  the  Cen- 
erall  Court  in  answer  to  the  petitions  of  the  north  and  south  purchaseis. 

"  A  true  coppy  transcribed  by  me, 

"JOHN  WTLT50KE.  Town  Clerk." 

(State  Papers,  Vol.  XI,  p.  297-8.) 

The  Selectmen  thereupon,  in  behalf  of  the  town  sent  in  this 
remonstrance  : 

"To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esquire,  Captain-Generall,  (iov- 
ernor-in-chief  in  and  over  her  majestie's  Provence  of  the  Massachusetts 
bay,  and  the  rest  of  the  honorable  Councill  and  Representatives  Con- 
vened in  General  Court.  May  the  2.'),  170!',  humbly  Sheweth: — 

'•  That  whereas  the  Honoured  Court  sent  to  the  Selectmen  of  Taun- 
ton to  show  their  reasons  (if  any  they  have)  why  Taunton  Noith  pur- 
chase and  South  Purchase  should  not  have  their  prayer  granted, — 

"In  answer  whereunto.  we  say.  that  although  it  hath  pleased  God 
to  Increase  our  numbers. -which,  we  liope,  is  in  mercy, -yet  must  say. 
that,  through  the  jiroviilence  of  God,  a  great  many  are  so  extream  poor, 
and  rales  and  taxes  so  high,    that  we   find    it  hard   and   difficult  to  rub 


33^  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

along;  and  the  Generality  of  the  North  purchase  are  so  poor,  that  we 
ffear  they  will  not  be  able  to  build  a  meeting-house  and  to  maintain  a 
minister.  "  [This  relates  to  the  South  purchase,  for  which  see  hereafter.] 
•  But  as  for  the  North  Purchase,  we  think  it  better  ffor  them  to  be 
a  Township  than  a  precinct. 

''  This  is  our  last  and  finall  answer,  uppon  mature  concideration. 

ISRAEL  THRASHER.         ) 

) 
.JOHN  SPUR,  )  Selectmen 

) 
EZRA  DEAN,  ) 

"We  whose  names  are  underwritten  are  of  the  same  mind  witli 
those  above, — "Thomas  Leonard,  Henry  Hodges,  Samuel  Deane,  Seth 
Williams,  .Joseph  Williams.  '"     [State  Papers,  Vol.  CXIJI,  p.  514.] 

The  Committee  for    the    petitioners    were    not   backward   to 
strengthen  tlieir  original  petition  by  another  in  these  words: 

"To  his  Excellency,  .Joseph  Dudley,  Esquire.  &c.,  25  day  of  May, 

noil. 

"  Whereas  we,  the  subscribers,  ageints  for  and  in  the  behalff  of 
divers  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  north  purchase,  and  divers  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Taunton  old  Township,  belonging  to  the  north  purchase 
millatary  company,  liave  petitioned  this  Honoured  Court  to  bound  said 
Inhabitants  a  precinct  for  the  maintenance  of  a  minister;  and  in  said 
petition,  we  have  not  informed  the  Honoured  Court  how  far  said  inhab- 
itants dwell  from  Taunton  meeting-house;  these  are  tharefore,  to  In- 
form this  Honoured  Court,  that  Benjamin  Newland,  Elezer  Edy,  and 
Ebenezer  Edy.  who  dwell  the  nearest  to  Taunton  meeting  house  of  any 
of  sd.  Inhabitants,  dwell  at  least  five  miles  and  a  half  from  Taunton 
meeting-house,  as  neer  as  can  be  computed;  and  william  wetherell,  Sen., 
.John  wetherell,  Elezer  Fisher,  Israle  ftisher,  Nathaniel  lisher.  dwell 
about  six  miles  from  sd.  meeting-house;  and  John  Austin,  .John  Briggs, 
junior,  william  Cob,  Nicholas  Smith,  John  Newland,  Thomas  Stevens, 
.John  Hodges,  and  Richard  Briggs,  dwell  about  seven  miles  from  sd. 
meeting-house;  as  also  Thomas  Braman,  Rol)ert  Tucker,  and  Nathaniel 
Hodges  and  Samuel  Hodges.  Selvanis  Cambell,  William  luxlges.  (ieorge 
Leonard,  .lohn  Briggs.  and  .Fosei)h  Briggs.  Dwell  about  eight  miles  from 
sd.  meeting-house:  and  .lulni  Liini- and  .(olni  (Ob  dwell  near  '.>  mile  from 
sd.  nieeting-hduse:  and  i)etter  .Mdricli.  nicholas  white,  niathew  white. 
Seth  Dorman.  .lohn  Hall,  .loiin  Caswell.  Benjamin  Caswell,  and  Joseph 
Elliot,  dwell  about  ten  miles  from  sd.  nieeting-house.  Benjamin  Williams 
dwelleth  about  Kicvcu  iinlc  and  a  half  fioui  sd.  niccting-house.     All  these 


APPENDIX.  337 

abovonained  i^o  to  'Pauiiton  meeting:  but  Isaac  Shepherd,  Thomas  Gro- 
ver,  Andrew  Grovei',  Ejdiriam  (Jrover,  Ephraim  Shehhm,  John  Skinner, 
Samuel  Bi'intnell,  dwell  fartluT  from  Taunton  meeting-house  than  these 
abovenamed,  (so)  that  they  commonly  go  to  wrentham  meeting;  and  they 
dwell  six,  seven  and  eight  miles  from  wrentham  meeting.  This  accoiuit 
is  as   neer   as  can  In- comi)uted  without  mesuring;  as  witness  our  iiaiids. 

GEORGE   LEOXAKI). 
NICHOLAS  WHITE. 

[State  Papers.  Vol.  GXIII.  p.  .")].").] 

The  controversy  grows  warmer,    and  the  town    proceeds  to 
additional  opposition,  thus: 

■' June  tlie  first,  ITOU. — At  a  Legall  Town  meeting,  warned  and  licld 
at  Taunton  publick  meeting-house, 

"2.  It  was  put  to  vote,  whether  the  Town  would  chuse  a  committee 
of  live  men  to  give  Reasons,  in  behalf  of  the  Town,  to  the  General  Gourt, 
wliy  the  petition  of  the  Xortli  and  South  purchases  should  not  be  granted. 

":).  It  was  voted  tliat  the  town  shall  chuse  five  men  to  make  lieturn 
to  the  Genwall  ( 'ourt,  and  give  their  reasons  why  tlie  prayers  of  the 
Xorth  and  South  purchasers  should  not  be  granted;  and  the  persons  then 
chosen  for  the  committee  were  Lieut.  James  Leonard,  Thomas  Harvey, 
Ensign  Phillip  King,  Ensign  Thomas  Gilbert,  and  Jonathan  Padleford." 

[State  Papers,  Vol.  XI,  p.  299.] 

This  Committee  promptly  acted  by  sending  in  this  petition  : 

•'To  his  Excly.  Joseph  Dudley,  Esquire,  &c. 

"Whereas  George  Leonard  and  Xicholas  White,  as  they  call  them- 
selves, agents  for  and  in  the  behalf  of  divers  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taun- 
ton Xorth  purchase,  and  divers  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  old  Town- 
ship, preferred  a  petition  to  this  honored.  Court  on  ye  20th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1708,  for  the  settling  a  precinct  according  to  certain  bounds  sett 
forth  in  sd.  petition:  and  in  Reading  sd.  petition,  in  Octo.  22,  1708,  this 
great  and  Generall  Court  ordered  That  the  selectmen  of  Taunton  be 
served  with  a  coppy  of  sd.  petition,  and  to  be  heard  thereupon,  &c.,  upon 
ye  second  Tuesday  of  the  next  Session  of  this  Court,  If  any  thing  they 
have  to  say  why  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  should  not  be  granted ;  and 
that  the  matter  may  stand  In  a  true  Ijight,  we  the  subscribers,  a  commit- 
tee chosen  in  Taunton,  would  humbly  offer  to  this  honrd.  Court,  that, 
when  the  tract  of  land  was  bought  (called  the  Xorth  purchase)  by  the 
Inhabitants  of  Taunton,  It  was  designed  for  a  Township  by  it  Self,  and 
not  any  ways  to  Damnihe  the  old  townshii)  l)y  taking  any  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants thereof  then  settled,  or  to  he  settled  to  make  the  purchase  a  Town- 
sliip  or  precinct;  for.  If  tliat  may  be,  our  forefathers  and  some  of  us 
layed  out  our  own  money  miserably  to  our  own  \\Tong,  and  to  the  wrong- 


338  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ing  of  our  poor  old  town,  and  the  petitioners  well  knew  all  the  sircum- 
stances  before  they  settled,  and  their  imprudent  settling  sd.  north  pur- 
chase procures  these  difficulties;  for,  had  they  settled  in  or  about  the 
middle  of  sd.  purchase,  the  people  that  are  now  there  would  have  been 
capable  of  beino-  a  Townshij),  and  so  to  maintain  A  minister  without 
breaking  or  harming  the  old  town,  and  whereas  it  is  Insinuated  in  sd. 
l)etition,  that,  when  they  had  communicated  to  the  town,  Tliey  had  In- 
coridgment  that  the  most  considerable  Treading  men  would  be  for  it,  and 
as  If  there  weie  but  some  few  tliatdid  hessitate  about  the  bounds:  which 
must  needs  be  some  great  mistake,  or  sometliing  else;  for  the  town  being 
warned  together  by  the  selectmen,  upon  tlieir  being  served  with  a  coppy 
of  their  petition,  to  consider  that  matter  (and  the  south  piuchase  peti- 
tion) there  was  such  a  contention  and  tumult  betwixt  the  town, — that  is, 
the  whole  body  almost  of  the  town  and  leading  men  and  petitioners, — 
that  the  meeting  was  dismissed,  and  nothing  done  but  confusion,  aiid 
now  we  come  to  some  few  objections  against  granting  the  prayer  of  sd. 
petition  (we  humbly  ho])e  and  fear  will  doo)  u])<)n  a  due  consideration. 
First,  as  has  been  hinted,  it  is  very  griveous  to  and  contrary  to  the  minds 
of  the  body  of  the  people  of  the  old  township, — Excepting  some  few  that 
are  Related  and  some  ways  Interested,  as  things  plainly  appear  to  us, — 
and,  If  granted,  we  very  mucli  fear  will  unsettell  us  in  our  present  settled 
state.  2ly,  we  know  no  part  of  the  old-township  Inhabitants  but  arc 
Equally  concerned  and  obliged  to  pay  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Saml.  Dan- 
forth,  our  settled  minister.  Though  some  may  pretend  that  it  is  butt  an 
Inconsiderable  thing  that  is  desired,  we  must  say  it  is  a  great  thing;  for 
our  charges  are  almost  Intolerable  already,  and  growing  Every  day.  and 
the  line  the  petitioners  speak  of  would  Incompass  almost  all  our  mead- 
ows, for  they  lye  chiefly  in  that  part  of  the  town;  and  will  .separate  some 
new  houses  from  their  lands,  which  must  needs  be  a  great  confusion. 
3dly,  Sundry  of  our  neighbouis  of  the  old  Township,  which  will  be  In- 
composed  within  sd.  line.  If  Granted, — considerable  men, — have  been 
with  our  selectmen,  and  manifested  their  great  unwillingness  to  be 
joyned  with  the  north  purchase  as  a  precinct,  and  offered  to  us  sundry 
papers  signifying  that  the.y  had  been  persuaded  and  imposed  upon  by 
some  of  ye  north  purchase  to  joyn  with  them  to  petition  for  a  precinct, 
but  they  wholly  refused;  but  upon  some  other  considerations,  did  sign 
some  of  these  papers  and  so  when  they  had  got  their  hands  and  by  these 
tricks  the  poor  subscribers  are  quite  contrary  to  their  minds  and  Intents. 
Improve  them,  as  it  were  deceiptfully.  to  make  them  part  of  the  intend- 
ed precinct;  which  actions  cannot  be  consistent  with  the  truth  and  their 
good  promises,  but  must  needs  be  Displeasing  to  almighty  God.  the 
selectmen  not  agreeing  to  make  answer  to  this  honrd.  Court,  the  se- 
lectmen warned  a  town  meeting,  June  1st,  1709;  and  the  Town  and  peti- 
tioners mett  together;  and   the  town  chose  a  commite.    which   are  the 


APPENDIX.  339 

subscribers,  to  act  and  make  answers  to  this  honrtl.  Court  now,  for 
wliicli  reasons  we  have  layed  down,  and  what  may  be  farther  offered,  we 
do  desire  and  humbly  hope  that  this  honerd.  Court  will  so  far  in  their 
wisdom  consider  the  matter  as  not  to  grant  the  precinct  Desired,  Least 
it  should  be  the  beginning  of  trouble  with  us.  we  would  farther  offer 
this  honrd.  Court,  as  the  mind  of  the  whole  town,  that  they  are  very 
willing  and  Desirous  that  the  north  purchase  should  have  all  previleges 
proper  and  needfull  for  them  both  civil  and  Ecliasticall;  and,  therefore, 
have  not  the  least  to  say  against  their  being  a  township  of  themselves, 
according  as  was  intended  from  ye  foundation  of  it  (as  above  was  hintefl) 
and  not  any  way  to  .loyn  to,  or  Enterineddle  with,  the  old  townsliii),  or 
with  that  sd.  purchase,  craving  ])ardon  for  our  boldness  and  a  charitable 
construction  of  what  we  have  writ,  we  pray  tlio  allmighty  (Jod  to  Direct 
you  in  all  the  affairs  before  you,  and  subscribe  your  honer's  most  humble 
servants. 

Dated  Taunton,  June  4th,  1709. 

^•'.lAMS.  LEONARD,  ) 

) 
PHILLIP  KING,  ) 

) 
THOMAS  GILBERT,  )        Commity." 

) 
THOMAS  HARVEY,  ) 

) 
JONATHAN  PADELFORD,     ) 

IState  Papers,  Vol.  CXIII,  p.  509.] 

Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  North  purchase  evidently  pre- 
ferred a  new  town  to  a  precinct  and  thus  expressed  their  views  : 

"  To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esqr.,  &c. 

"We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  inhabitants  of  ye  town  of 
Taunton,  humbly  sheweth,  that  wee  being  very  sensible  of  ye  great 
daingur  we  are  in  of  being  Impoverished  and  biought  to  great  distress 
for  yt,  to  witt,  Som  of  our  neighbovrs,  Inhabitants  of  sd.  Taunton,  and 
som  of  ye  west  part  of  Taunton  North  purchase,  being  often  very  im- 
portant with  us  to  agine  with  them  to  pertetion  ye  General  Court  to 
grant  them  a  precinct;  but  we  knowing  ye  inability  of  ourselves  and  our 
neighbours,  could  not  comply  with  them  but  they,  after  pleading  there 
want  of  a  precincts  to  be  granted  to  them,  and  their  inability  to  main- 
tain ye  same  without  our  help,  we,  willing  to  doe  them  a  cindness,  did, 
som  of  lis,  signified  to  ym,  yt  if  they  would  petition  ye  General  Court  to 


340  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

grant  a  township  to  tlie  whole  north  purchase,  and  so  much  of  Taunton 
as  was  agined  to  them  in  ye  military,  that  we  would  agine  with  them. 
som  of  us  whose  names  are  underwritten,  and  ye  rest  of  us,  did  wholly 
refuse  to  sett  our  hands  to  any  writing  Either  for  a  township  or  precints 
neither;  But  they,  having  pertitioned  ye  honored  Court  for  to  grant  them 
a  precincts,  contrary  to  our  minds  and  intent,  and  hath  set  forth  ye 
limets  of  sd.  precincts  to  make  us  a  part  thereof,  which  will  be  no  ben- 
efit to  us,  but  so  great  a  charg  yt  will  soon  bring  us  to  poverty;  for  we 
are  not  able  to  pay  our  parts  to  a  precincts  charg,  and  to  pay  ratts  to  ye 
town  also.  And  as  ye  petitioners  do  preten  to  ye  want  of  a  minister  to 
dispence  ye  word  of  God  to  them,  we  say  we  are  in  no  such  want;  for  we 
have  ye  benefit  of  hearing  ye  word  preacht  by  ye  Reverant  Mr.  Danforth, 
under  whose  ministry  we  desire  to  continue.  Therefore  we  pray  ye  hon- 
ored Cort  to  consider  our  condition,  yt  we  may  not  be  consarned  with 
our  precincts,  but  yt  we  may  injoy  our  privilidges  as  formerlly.  And 
whereas  .som  of  us  (namely  John  wetherell,  John  Nulan,  Benjamin 
Nulan,  Nicholas  Smith,  John  Briggs,  junior)  did  sett  our  liands  to  soms 
of  there  papers,  but  we  understood  ourselves  only  conserned  with  them 
for  a  township;  but  we  understand  they  have  made  a  wrong  improve- 
ment of  our  names;  we  did  not  think  they  wold  have  taken  such  ad- 
vantage as  to  improve  our  names  as  petitioners  with  them  for  a  pre- 
cincts. But  our  comfort  is  yt  ye  honored  Cort  will  not  suffer  us  to  wrong- 
one  another,     we  subscribe  ourselves  your  most  humble  petitiimers. 

William  Wetherell,  sen.,  John  Briggs,  junr., 

John  Austin,  John  Nulan, 

Edward  Whit,  Ben.  Nulan, 

Jeremiah  Wetherell,  Nicholas  Smith. 

Jeremiah  Newland,  William  Cob. 
John  Wethell, 

[State  Papers,  Vol.  CXIII,  p.  .511.1 

The  General  Court  with  all   these  petitions  and  counter  peti- 
tions, apparently  took  this  action  as  the  next  step  : 

"Junes,  1709.  In  Council. — Upon  the  hearing  of  the  several  peti- 
tions of  the  inhabitants  of  the  No.  and  So.  Purchases,  in  Taunton,  to  be 
made  separate  Precincts  for  the  settling  and  support  of  the  ministry  in 
the  respective  places, — 

"  Resolved,  that  Nathaniel  Thomas,  Nathaniel  Byfield,  and  James 
Warren  Esqrs.,  be  a  committee  to  repair  to  Taunton, and  view  the  said  sev- 
eral purchases,  and  upon  consideration  of  all  circumstances,  to  set  olT 
proper  Precincts  to  encourage  the  good  Ends  desired  by  the  petitioners, 
and  to  advise  and  direct  to  the  most  suitable  places  for  the  raising  of 
their  meetinghouses,  and  to  make   their  report  to  tlie  next  session  of 


APPENDIX.  341 

Mii.s  Court  lor  cunformation,  Xathaniel  Thomas  Esqr.,  to  appoint  tiic 
Tiniu.  The  chai<;cs  of  the  said  Committee  to  be  borne  by  the  said  Pre- 
cincts." 

|Gen.  Court.  Kec.  Vol,  VIII,  p.  441.  | 

The  Legislative  Committee  soon  visileci  Taunlon,  to  perform 
their  duty  and  made  a  report  as  follows  : 

••Taunton  Auf^t.  ol,  ITU'J. 

••Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Great  and  General  Court  dated  June 
ye  8th,  1709,  to  u.s  Directed  to  Hepaire  to  Taunton  and  view  the  several 
tracts  of  land  which  the  Inhabitants  of  the  North  and  South  purchases 
in  Taunton  have  petitioned  to  be  made  separate  precincts,  for  the  settlinji 
and  support  of  the  ministry  in  said  Respective  places; — 

And  we  the  subscribers,  havint^  viewed  the  several  tracts,  and  heard 
the  allegations  of  the  opposite  Parties  thereto,  upon  consideration  of  all 
circumstances,  have  sett  the  bounds  of  the  several  Precincts  as  follows: 
That  is  to  say.  That  the  Bounds  of  the  North  Precinct  (according  to 
their  petition)  shall  begin  at  the  line  between  the  two  late  Colonies  of 
the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth,  in  the  line  of  the  bounds  between 
Taunton  North  Purchase  and  Attleboro'  and  from  thence  southward  to 
Itehoboth  North-east  corner:  and  from  thence  eastward,  on  the  said 
North  Purchase  line,  to  Taunton  Bounds;  and  from  thence  eastward  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Brook  called  Burt's  Brook,  Leaving  out  Capt.  Hodge's 
Land  at  Burt's  Brook,  and  extending  from  the  mouth  of  Burt's  Brook 
to  the  Bridge  made  over  the  mill  River,  near  William  Wetherell's;  and 
from  thence  North-eastward  to  the  North-Purchase  Line;  and  from  the 
North-Purchase  line,  the  road  that  leads  from  said  Bridge  towards  Bos- 
ton to  be  the  bounds  till  it  come  to  the  Line  between  the  said  late  Col- 
imies;  wch  line  to  be  the  Bounds  to  Attleborough  Boiuids  aforesaid. 

And  that  the  meeting-house  for  the  said  North  Precinct  be  sett  on 
the  Northward  side  of  the  way  that  leads  over  Rumford  river  at  Cross- 
man's  way,  at  the  place  where  the  way  crosseth  it  that  leads  from  .lohn 
Hodge's  to  the  lieech  Island. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands. 

NATHANIEL  THOMAS, 
NATHANIEL  BYFIELD. 
.TAMES  WARREN. 

I  State  Papers.  Vol.  XI,  p.  2'.l(i.l 

This  report,  in  favor  of  a  precinct,  merely  stirred  up  those  who 
desired  a  new  town  to  make  one  more  effort  for  the  latter;  and 
they  a^ain  addressed  the  Governor  as  follows  : 


342  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

"September!),  17()0. 

"  To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudly.  Esqr.,  &c. 

"Wee  ye  subscribers,  Inhabitance  and  propriators  of  Taunton  North 
purcheis  (so  called)  humbly  sheweth,  that  whereas  we  understand  that 
som  of  our  neij^hbours,  with  som  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  Taunton,  have  ob- 
tained incoragement  from  this  General  Cort  to  be  a  precincts;  but,  for- 
asmuch as  our  neighbours  have  not  acwuainted  us  therewith  as  they 
ought  so  to  do,  we,  being  major  part  of  sd.  purceis  inhabitance,  and 
ye  first  Setlers,  do,  in  all  humble  submition,  offer  to  your  honors  ye  un- 
happy effects  yt  may  happen  not  only  to  ourselves,  but  to  ye  whole  tract 
of  land  which  was  from  ye  foundation,  intended  for  a  township,  which 
now  it  is  capable  of;  there  being  many  inhabitance  already  settled,  and 
many  more  going  to  settel,  on  said  tract  of  Land.  But  if  there  be  so 
great  a  part  of  sd.  Land  taken  of  us  as  we  understand  is  set  forth  for  a 
precincts  by  those  honorable  gentellmen  ye  committy,  who  have  done  ac- 
cording to  their  plesure;  and  if  ye  meeting-hous  be  built  whare  sd.  com- 
mitty hath  appynted, — which  is  neare  ye  west  End  of  sd.  purchies,  which 
will  be  serviceable  but  to  very  few;  wh.  will  be  a  means  to  spyle  ye  said 
tract  of  Land  and  cans  it  to  be  wholly  unfit  for  a  township,  and  frus- 
terate  ye  intention  of  us,  ye  proprietors  thereof,  and  will  discourage 
many  from  settling  on  their  lands  in  sd.  purcheis.  And  whareas  they 
have  left  about  one-third  part  of  sd.  purchies  of  ye  East  part,  supposing 
Bridgewater  will  add  part  of  their  town  to  it,  to  make  ye  part  a  pre- 
cints,  it  is  a  great  mistake,  ye  inhabitants  of  Bridgewater  give  us  no 
such  incoragement.  Therefore  we  pray  this  honored  Cort,  that  there 
may  be  pertition-lines  between  ye  one  end  of  our  sd.  purcheis  and  ye 
other;  but  yt;  if  ye  honored  Court  thinks  it  convenient,  wee  pray  yt  ye 
honerd  Cort  would  grant  us  a  township,  with  all  the  privilidges 
belonging  to  a  town,  to  ye  whole  north  purches,  and  so  much  of 
Taunton  old  township  as  belongs  to  our  military  Company,  which 
is  from  ye  mouth  of  a  Broock  called  Burt's  Brook,  and  from 
thence  to  wenaconnett  bridge,  and  from  thence  north-east  to  ye  sd. 
north  purcheis  line;  and  yt  ye  meeting  hous  may  be  set  in  ye  most  con- 
venient place  in  ye  senter,  between  the  East  and  ye  West  End,  which  we 
conceive  will  be  most  conveuieut  for  ye  whole  town,  both  for  ye 
worship  of  God  on  Sabbath  dayes  and  for  militery  trainings,  and  all 
other  pubiick  meetings.  And  wee  would  humbly  say,  yt  wee  are 
very  sensable  yt  we  are  in  a  great  necessity  of  an  able  orthodox  minister 
to  be  settled  amongst  us  to  dispence  ye  word  of  God  amongst  us:  which 
when  we  are  a  town,  we  hope  we  shall  be  able  procure  and  settel  amongst 
us;  which  we  hoop  we  shall  soon  indcvor  for,  that  tharein  we  may  be 
happy.  And  whereas  some  have  objected,  and  said  yt  ye  north  purcheis 
is  to  long  to  come  to  one  mitteng,  we  think  it  a  great  mistack;  for  we 
can  come  to  yc  senter;  and  why  cannot  tiiose  who  do  object  against  it 
com  as  well  as  we?    And  f urder,  we  pray  this  Cort  to  give  a  name  unto 


APPENDIX.  343 

our  town;  but,  if  this  Coit  thinks  it  is  not  proper  to  <j;rant  us  our  peti- 
tion, we  pray  tlie  preeincls  may  not  be  conformed  to  those  who  have  perti- 
tioucd  for  ye  sam,  but  it  may  be  suspended   untell  ye  Cort  can  be  better 

informed.     We  do  appynt  and   impower to  be  our  adiants  to 

prefare  this  our  pertition  to  ye  Honored  Cort.  we  Subscribe  ourselves 
your  most  humble  petitioners, — 

William  Manley,  senr.,  Thoam  Drake,  John  IMiiliips.  Benjamin 
Drake,  William  Manley,  jun.,  John  Daily,  Clemant  Brig^s,  Kphraim 
Howell,  Isaac  Leonard,  John  Drake.  George  Hall,  John  Howard,  Nathan- 
iel Ames,  Samuel  Leach,  Ephraim  Howard.  William  Ames,  James  Keith, 
Samuel  Lathrop,  Sener,  Samuel  Lathrop.  .Inner.  Nathaniel  Packard, 
Joseph  Hayward.  Haris.  " 

[State .Papers,  Vol.  XL  p.  ;J02.] 

Three  days  afterwards,   Sept.    12,  certain  individuals  in  favor 
of  a  town,  presented  this  additional  petition  : 

"To  ye  lionered  Generall  Cort  held  at  Boston. 

"We  ye  subscribers.  Inhabitance  of  Taunton,  livcing  within  ye  pre- 
cincts Line  of  ye  North  purcheis,  on  ye  Easterly  part  thereof,  in  all 
humble  submition  doe  offer  to  this  Cort.  yt  whereas  our  naighbors  have 
obtained  a  precincts  to  be  set  forth  by  a  Committy  appynted  for  ye  same, 
and  they  have  taken  us  into  sd.  precinct,  which  was  contrary  to  our 
minds,  altho'  we  signified  our  minds  to  sd.  Committy  yt.  we  ware  not 
willing  to  be  cut  of  from  our  minister  and  mitting-hous  so  near  ye  west 
end  of  sd.  North  purcheis  yt  we  shall  have  no  benelitt  thereby,  so  yt  we 
arc  like  to  be  in  wors  condition  than  we  ware  in  before;  it  being  so  re- 
mote from  us.  and  a  more  uneasy  way  to  travill  on:  Tharfore,  if  it  be  ye 
l)lcasure  of  this  Cort  yt  wee  must  be  drawn  of  from  our  minister  and 
mitting-hous,  unto  Avhich  we  have  heatherto  belonged,  and  have  layed 
out  part  of  yt  littel  Estate  yt  we  have  towards  ye  supporting  of,  and  heliJ 
with  others  to  build  another  mitting-hous,  and  settell  another  minister, 
we  pray  yt  ye  whole  north  purchies,  and  ye  part  of  Taunton  which  be- 
longs to  ye  miletary  Company,  may  be  made  a  township,  and  ye  mitting- 
hous  may  be  sett  where  it  may  be  servisable  for  the  whole  town;  which, 
we  ct)nceivc.  will  be  a  great  benefit  to  all  ye  inhabitance  within  ye  tract 
of  Land :  for  it  is  a  great  jjity  but  so  good  a  work  should  be  prophitable 


344  QUARTER     MILLENNIAL     CELEBRATION. 

to  all  yc  inliahitancc  abovcsaid;  whereas,  if  ye  mittiiij^-huus  bo  bull  in 
yc  place  wliaic  it  is  appyntcd,  it  will  bo  prophitable  to  but  a  very  tew 
Wc  subscribe  ourselves  your  most  humble  petitioners, 

"Dated  in  Taunton 
September  12,  Ana  Domini  170U. 

.JOHN  BRIGGS,  Junior. 
JOHN  AUSTIN. 
JEREMIAH  WETIIEIIEL. 
WILLIAM  COB. 
EDWARD  WHIT. 
We  desire  vi  Mr.  Robert  JOHN  WETHEKELL. 

Grossman  may  deliver  these  BENJAMIN  NEWLAND. 

lines  into  ye  Cort.  NICHOLAS  SMITH. 

WALTER  MERY. 
JOHN  NEWLAND. 
JEREMIAH  NEWLAND." 
I  Sate  Papers  Vol.  XI.  p.  302.  | 

The  friends  of  a  precinct  were  not  idle,  and  thus  again  gave 
their  reasons  for  a  precinct. 

1st.  Because  now  is  the  time  that  the  si)irit  of  God  seems  to  move 
tlie  hearts  of  those  people  So  earnestly  to  desire  it. 

2dly.  Because  if  it  be  now  "ranted,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  most 
considetable  persons  will  be  Incouraged  to  come  and  settle  there,  when 
they  know  that  an  orthodox  minister  is  settled  there. 

3dly.  Because  it  is  to  be  feared,  if  there  be  no  settlement  of  the 
ministry  among  them  till  some  of  those  leading  men  among  them  are 
taken  away,  and  others  grown  up  in  their  room  that  will  be  brough  up 
in  an  ungosiielled  way,  manj'  of  them  will  be  so  far  from  desiring  a  min- 
ister, that,  if  some  among  them  should  Invite  a  minister  among  thenii 
some  others  would  warn  him  away. 

41y.  Because  if  the  Court  do  not  grant  what  is  desired  to  settle  a 
minister  in  these  places,  when  the  report  thereof  is  spread  abroad  that 
these  people  desired  such  a  Grant,  but  the  Court  would  not  grant  it.  It 
is  to  be  feared  that  it  will  be  an  Incouragement  to  some  Envious  persons 
to  come  and  settle  there,  to  the  undoing  of  the  places,  and  creating 
trouble  to  the  Government;  wheieas  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  timely 
settlement  of  the  ministry  there  will  be  a  means  to  make  those  places 
useful  in  the  Government,  and  happy  to  the  Inhabitants. 

These  petitioners  do  not  act  tiirough  any  dislike  to  their  present 
l)astor,  nor  to  the  church  in  Taunton,  but  have  as  great  a  love  for,  and 
esteem  of,  said  pastor  and  churcli,  as  to  render  them  well  satisfied  and 
contented,  if  their  habitations  were  near  enough  to  the  meeting. 


APPENDIX.  345 

And  tlic  p;istor  lias  as  <;ioat  a  love;  and  lospcct  tor  llicin  Ixjtli  in  tlic 
north  and  south  purchase. 

Therefore  it  is  not  any  discontent  or  Animosity  that  causeth  tlic 
petitioners  to  stir  as  they  do,  but  only  that  they  and  their  chiklren  may 
Injoy  the  means  of  grace  nearer  to  them. 

[State  Papers.  Vol.  CXIII,  p.  517.  J 

The  General  Court,  on  the  i6th  Sept.  1709  accepted  the  re- 
port of  their  Committee,  before  referred  to,  in  favor  of  a  new  pre- 
cinct with  a  sUght  proviso,  and  thus  this  long  and  exciting  contro- 
versy seemed  to  have  terminated  in  favor  of  George  Leonard  and 
Nicholas  White  and  the  prospect  for  a  new  town  was  not  encour- 
aging.. But  in  less  than  two  years  the  nevy  Precinct  and  the  Town 
both  agreed  that  a  new  town  should  be  established,  and  on  their 
petition,  this  order  was  passed  : 

'•March  17th,  1710-11.— 
The  foUowino;  Order  passed  by  the  Council  and  Assembly  respect- 
ively, upon  the  Petition  of  the  North  Precinct  in  Taunton,  Prayinj;'  to 
be  made  a  Town,  having  the  consent  of  Taunton  therefor;  viz: — 

Ordered,  That  the  North  Precinct  in  Taunton  be,  and  hereby  is. 
granted  to  be  a  town,  distinct  from  the  Town  of  Taunton  by  the  name 
of  NORTON,  and  have  and  enjoy  the  Powers,  Immunities  and  Privileges 
by  law  granted  to  Townships;  and  that  a  bill  be  piojected,  and  brought 
in  at  the  next  session  of  this  Court,  fully  to  perfect  the  sd.  Grant. 
Provided  that  the  East  End  of  the  North  Purchase  shall  have  half  the 
said  Purchase  as  their  Precinct  when  they  are  able  to  maintain  a  iniu- 
ister,  and  this  Court  judge  them  so." 
[Gen.  Court  Rec.  Vol.  IX,  p.  100.  | 

Thereupon  the  bill  was  passed  for  a  new  town  as  follows,  and 
the  final  disposition  of  the  question  was  reached . 

"  An  Act  for  raising  a  new  Town  by  the  name  of  NORTON,  witiiin 
the  County  of   Bristol. 

Whereas  the  tract  of  Land  commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name 
of  the  North  Purchase,  Lying  situate  within  the  Township  of  Taunton, 
in  the  county  of  Bristol,  circumscribed  within  the  Lines  and  Boundaries 
prescribed  by  a  committee  some  time  since  appointed  by  the  (ieneral 
Assembly,  as  follows,  viz. :  Beginning  at  the  line  between  the  two  late 
Colonies  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth,  in  the  line  of  the  said 
North  I'urchase  and  Attleborough:  from  thence  Running  Southward  to 
Relioboth   North-East  corner;  from   thence  Eastward  on  the  North-pur- 


34^)        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

cliaso  Line,  to  Tan  ton  bounds;  thence  Eastward  to  the  Mouth  of  the 
Brook  called  Buifs  Brook,  and  extending  from  tlie  mouth  of  Burt's 
Brook  to  the  Bridge  over  the  Mill  River,  near  Wm.  Witlierel's;  and  from 
Ihcnce  North-eastward  to  the  North-Purchase  Line;  and  from  the  North- 
jiurchase  Line,  the  Road  that  leads  from  the  said  Bridge  towards  Boston 
to  be  the  Bound  till  it  come  to  the  Line  betwixt  the  two  Late  Colonies 
aforesaid  which  Line  to  be  the  Bounds  to  Attleborough  aforesaid  was  set 
off  from  Tanton  by  and  with  the  consent  of  that  Town,  and  by  an  order 
of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  at  their  Session  in  March,  1710,  made  a 
distinct  and  separate  Town  from  Tanton,  containing  a  sufficient  (luan- 
tity  of  Lands  and  a  competent  number  of  Inhabitants  for  that  purpose, 
and  named  NORTON;  the  full  perfecting  of  the  said  grant  being  ad- 
journed and  referred  to  the  present  Courts. 

In  pursuance,  therefore,  of  the  afore-recited  Order  and  Grant,  and 
foi-  the  completing  and  perfecting  of  the  same,  Be  it  enacted  by  his  Ex- 
cellency the  Governor,  Council,  and  Representatives  in  General  Court 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same  That  the  aforesaid  Tract  of 
Land  commonly  called  the  North  Purchase  circumscribed  and  bounded 
as  above  expressed,  Be  and  is  Granted  to  be  a  Township  Distinct  and 
scjtarate  from  Tanton;  the  Town  to  be  named  Norton,  and  all  the  in- 
habitants thereof  to  have,  Use,  Exercise,  and  enjoy  all  such  Immunities. 
Powers,  and  Privileges  as  other  Towns  within  this  Province  have  and  do 
by  law  exercise  and  enjoy,  so  that  the  said  Inhabitants  settle  and  an 
able.  Learned,  Orthodox  Minister  in  the  said  Town,  and  from  time  to 
time  allow  him  a  Comfortable  support. 

Provided  Nevertheless,  That  the  Inhabit.ints  in  the  cast  end  of  the 
said  North  Purchase  shall  have;  t)iie-half  of  the  said  Purchase  as  their 
Precinct,  when  they  are  able  to  mainlain  a  minister,  and  this  Court  judge 
them  so." 

June  12th,   1711. 

I  1   Prov.  .Sts.    p.  ()7<i.  I 

(In  the  iiiritiiriition  ol  tliis  Aiipciiilix  iiiucli  aid  lias  been  ikuivod  liuiu  llov.  Mr. 
Clark's  History  ol  Norton.) 


APPENDIX  Y. 

iTajiC  rj.'i.) 


The  original  petition  for  the  setliny;  off  of  the  South  Precinct, 
(laierl  Oct.    ii,    1708,  and  signed  by  thirty-one    residents  in  that 

locality  was  in  these  words: 


API'F.NDIX.  347 

"To  His  ExccIcMicy  ,J(>sei)li  Dudley  Es(ir.  (iovcnioiiv.  And  to  tlie  Iloiioui- 
;il)lc  ('ouiu'C'll,  And  Ifepicsoiitatives  Assembled  in  their  (Jreat  and  (lenei- 
all  Court  Att  Boston  Oetoher  20,  ITOS. 

We  the  Subscribers,  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  South  purchase  t(>,i;ct]ier 
Avith  seveniU  Inhabitants  of  the  old  Township  of  Taunton  That  dwell  on 
the  east  side  of  the  great  river;  Being  under  great  disadvantages  By 
reason  of  remoteness  from  the  meeting-House  in  the  center  of  the  old 
Township,  many  of  us  liveing  six  and  seven  and  some  of  us  Eight  miles 
and  some  more  then  so  distant  therefrom,  so  that  it  is  impossible  foi' 
us  to  carry  our  whole  families  with  us  to  meeting.  And  those  that  are 
Aged  and  Crasey  among  us  can  seldom  repayr  thether  And  while  the 
heads  of  the  families  are  absent,  the  younger  persons  are  exposed  to  pro- 
phayn  the  sabbath  att  Home. 

We  doe  therefore  out  of  a  sincere  respect  to  the  glory  of  god  and  the 
leaveing  religion  as  a  portion  unto  our  posterity;  Pray  This  Great  and 
( renerall  Conrt,  That  we  may  have  the  liberty  to  settle  a  minister  among 
our  selves  That  is  able  orthodox  Learned  and  pious  Hoping  that  there  is 
a  competent  number  of  us  the  Petitioners,  to  Afford  that  support  to  such 
A  (piallifyed  Minister  as  may  Incorrage  one  to  settle  among  us  In  Case 
this  Court  will  please  to  free  ns  from  paying  to  the  supi^ort  of  the  Minis- 
try in  the  old  Township;  Which  we  humbly  conceive  may  be  thought 
reasonable;  Considdering  that  there  will  be  as  great  a  number  of  Inhabi- 
tants Remaining  in  the  old  township  to  support  the  ministry  there  when 
we  are  drawn  of.  As  there  was  in  the  whole  townshij)  twenty  years  since 
And  that  the  greatest  part  of  the  Inhaliitants  of  this  south  purchase  have 
settled  themselves  there  within  this  twenty  year,  And  we  submit  to  the 
wisdom  of  this  (ireat  and  (ienerall  Court  to  make  us  either  a  precinct  or  a 
township  as  they  shall  see  Cause,  And  to  set  such  a  line  thereunto  as  may 
Comprehend  All  the  families  of  your  Petitioners;  Although  the  line  we 
our  selves  Have  thought  upon  is  the  line  that  Runs  Betwixt  the  south- 
purchase  and  Taunton  old  township:  And  Crossing  the  great  river  to  keep 
the  same  point  till  it  meet  with  the  line  of  fretown  Township:  And  wo 
have  chosen  ('apt.  Jared  Tall>ut  To  present  this  our  petition  and  to  wait 
upon  the  Court  As  is  need  full  to  obtain  their  favourable  answer  therein. 
Dated  In  Taunton  October  Uth  1708.  By  your  very  Humble  Peti- 
tioners. 

Edward  paull  John   paull 

John  Reed  Richard  haskiiis 

Ebenezer  briggs  James  paul 

Henry  Pitts  Ebenezer  Pitts 

Nathaniell  Briggs  Samuel  Waldron 

Nicolas  Haskens  ^  Ephraim  Hathway 

James  Talbut  Thomas  Jones 

Isaac  pooll  Hezekiah  Hoar 


;4.S 


OUARTEK     MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


M;ittliew  brigfis 
Tlioinas  bri<;cs 
David  AValker 
Amos   brings 
Joseph    pooll 
Samuel  Whitmaish 


Abraham  bhiiu-haid 
rcnieman  biiges 
John  Crane 
Isaac  hathway 
Edward   Shove 
James  Tysdale 
Joseph  Dean 
Jared  Talbut 
Abram  hathwav 


This  petition  was  followed  b\"  the  following'  order: 

•'  111  Coiilicil,  2S  Octo.    ITOS. 

iU-ad  and  Ordered  That  tlie  I'et''^  caiisi-  tlic  Selrctincn  of  Tauuloii  to 
be  Served  with  a  Copy  of  tliis  Petitiim  and  tliat  they  be  licard  thereiiixm 
before  tliis  Court,  on  the  seeond  Tuesday  of  tlieir  next  Session:  If  any 
thinji'  they  have  to  Say  why  the  Prayer  thereof  may  not  l)e  Granted. 

Jsa.   Addinnton  Seery. 
Sent  down  for  Coneurrenee. 
In  tlie  House  of  Representatives. 
Oeto.  2ilth  1708.     Head  & 

I'ass'd.  in  (  oncurreme. 

Thomas  ( »livt'r 

Speaker.  " 
Upon  Ueadinj"'  of  a  Petition  of  the  Inliabitants  of  Taunton  Soutii 
I'ureliase,  witli  several  of  the  old  Township,  Setting;  forth  their  Remote- 
ness from  the  Place  of  publick  Worshij),  Piayin<;  to  be  made  a  Separate 
Piecinet  for  the  Ministry;  Ordered  that  the  Petitioner.s  Cause  the  Select 
Men  of  Taunton  to  be  served  with  a  Copy  of  the  said  Petition  And  that 
they  be  heard  thereupon  before  this  Court,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
their  next  Session,  If  any  Tliino-  they  have  to  say:  why  the  Prayer  there 
of  may  not  be  granted. 

Voted  a  Concurrence  in  the  House  of  Ilepresentatives. 

Consented  to  J.   Dudley. 
(Date  of  meeting,  October  28,  1708.) 

On  the  serviee  of  this  petition  there  was  a  tumult  in  'I'aunton, 
as  is  easily  gathered  from   the   following  action  of  the  town  :   \iz.: 

"Tanton  feb  ye  first  day  1708-0 
Whereas  y('  select  men  of  our  town  was  served  with  a  coi)])y  of  ye  north 
imrchas  and  south  juirchas  petitions  and  they  Caused  ye  town  to  meet 
to  (Jatlier  this  d;i,.y  and  Ivcad  thayr  i)etitions  in  ye  town  mcicting  when 
matters  was  fairly  debated  and  thare  being  many  nien  of  many  minds  so 
tluit   nothing  was  Concluded  on,  only  some  persons  would  have  ye  select 


APrENDix.  349 

men  to  take  tlinyr  lime  ;unl  write   ye  Couvf  an  answer,  so  ye  assembly 
ware  rlismisscd. 

Jolin  Wilbore  Town  Clerk. 

Henry  He(l<;os 

Another  town  meeting  three  weeks  afterwards  as  follows  : 

At  a  Legall  Town  meetincj.  warned  and  held  at  Tannton  publick  meetinj^ 
bouse  the  22  day  of  februarj'  lTOS-9  It  was  voted  that  the  Town  doth  Im- 
))ower  the  present  select  men.  to  make  Return  to  the  Generall  (-'ourt  in 
answer  to  the  petitions  of  the  north  and  south  purchasers 
A  True  Coppy  Transcribed  by  me  John  Wilbore  Town  Clerk. 

In  May  following  the  Selectmen  sent  in  this  communication  : 

"  And  as  for  the  South  Purchase,  we  are  very  sensible  that  they  will 
be  exposed  to  great  difficulty,  by  reason  of  the  Great  River  that  runs 
throuoh  the  middle  of  that  desired  precinct,  which  will  be  difficult  to 
pass  in  Winter  by  reason  that  the  ice  is  many  times  not  strong  enough  to 
bear,  and  to  hard  to  break.  Yet  we  say,  that  if  this  Honored  Court  in 
their  wisdom  see  it  convenient,  and  our  neighbors  and  friends  see  their 
way  clear,  we  shall  not  oppose  them;  so  that  the  Court  order  it  that  we 
be  no  way  concerned  with  any  of  their  charges,  but  that  they  bear  it 
themselves.  " 

But  the  town  apparently  desired  to  reinforce  this  protest  and 

accordingly  a  special  committee  was  appointed  for  this  purpose, 

as  appears  by  the  following  : 

•■June  the   first  17(>!»    At  a  Legall  Town  meeting    warned   and  held  at 
Taunton  jjublick  meeting  house  it  was  first  Voted  to  chuse  a  Moderator 
and  the  person  cliosen  by  Vote  was  Lieut  James  Leonard. 
2.     It  was  put  to  vote  whether  the  Tow-n  would  chuse  a  committee  of  five 
men  to  give  Reasons  in  behalf  of  the  Town,  to  the  Generall  Court,  why 
the  petitions  of  the  north  and  south  i)urchasers  should  not  be  granted, 
8.     it  w  as  voted  that  the  Town  shall  chuse   five  men  to  make  Return  to 
the  Generall  Court  and  give  their  Reasons  why,  the  prayers  of  the  north 
and  south  purchasers  should  not  be  granted,  and  the  persons  then  chosen 
for  the  committe   were  Lieut  James   Leonard,  Thomas  Harvey    Ensign 
phillip  King:  Ensign  Thomas  Gilbert  and  Jonathan  paddleford. 
A  true  cojipy  Transcribed  IJy  nic  .John  Wilbore  Town  Clerk. 

There  was  evidently  some  sharp  work  going  on  here,  for  on 
the  4th  of  June,  1709,  the  Selectmen  sent  this  word  to  the  General 
Court  : 


350  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

To  ye  lionoviMl  (Jeiierall  ('ort 

we  whose  names  are  under  written  Knowinj^  it  to  be  our  duty  to  be  faitli- 
full  unto  ye  Care  and  trust  ooniniited  to  ns  by  ye  towne  of  Taunton  and 
Knowing'  yt  (apt  Jarat  Talbut  of  our  taunton  south  pureliase  and  otliers 
of  liis  neiii,'hbours  had  petitioned  ye  (ireat  and  (xenerall  fort  to  <i,rant 
tlieni  a  township  or  a  presint  and  liearinjn  yt  ye  Cort  had  sent  us  a  notili- 
eation  to  make  answer  wliy  tlieir  prayers  should  not  be  granted  I  .lames 
Leonard  desiered  sd  Talbut  to  let  us  ye  selectmen  have  ye  notification  yt 
ye  Cort  had  sent  to  us  which  was  on  ye  ;5l)th  day  of  may:  170!)  and  sd  Tal- 
but said  yt  we  should  have  it  if  we  would  pay  for  it  and  on  ye  first  day  of 
June  17<>'.)  T  said  Thomas  Harvey  desired  sd  Talbiit  to  give  us  ye  sd  noti- 
lication  and  sd  Talbut  said  he  had  given  a  copye  of  sd  notilication  to 
John  Spur  on  of  our  select  men  as  witnes  our  hands  this  4th  day  of  Jun 
in  yeare  of  Christ  ITOV). 

James   Leonard  ( two  of  ye 
Thomas  harvey  |  selectmen. 

This  Committee,  above  chosen  June   ist,  immediately  sent  in 
this  remonstrance. 

To  his  Excly  Joseph  Dudley  Esqr.  Captn  Cenerall  &  Covernour  in  chief 
in  and  over  her  majesties  province  of  ye  Massachusetts  bay  &c  and  to  ye 
lionoured  Council]  and  Kepresentatives  convened  in  General  Court. 

Whereas  a  petition  has  been  presented  to  this  great  and  General 
Court  by  some  of  Taunton  south  purchase  and  some  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  The  East  side  The  Great  River  opposite  to  sd  purchase,  to  be  joyned 
to  gether  either  in  a  township  or  precinct.  Separate  from  the  old  Town- 
ship or  other  parts  of  sd  town,  and  upon  Heading  and  Considering  sd 
])etition  This  Oireat  and  general  Court  ordered  that  the  Select  Men  of 
Taunton  bee  served  with  a  coppy  of  sd  petition  as  we  hear,  that  they 
might  be  heard  If  they  had  any  thing  to  say,  why  ye  prayr  of  sd  petition- 
ers should  not  be  granted,  the  Select  Men  warnd  a  town  meeting  to  Con- 
sider of  the  matter  (as  also  concerning  ye  north  purchase  petition)  and 
the  Town  met  togather  and  petitioners:  but  fell  into  such  a  heat  of  spirit 
by  such  a  Striving  by  the  petitioners  to  break  our  Town  to  pesis:  The 
day  was  spent  in  Confusion  and  the  meeting  dismist  and  nothing  done: 
and  the  selectmen  warnd  another  town  meeting  to  be  on  ye  22nd  day  of 
february  lT0S-!t  and  the  town  and  petitioners  mett  to  gather,  the  selec^t 
men  dcsird  of  <'ai)t.  Talbut  to  se  the  petition  That  they  and  the  Town 
miglit  Consider  it  and  doo  what  was  proper  to  be  done  al)out  it  but 
(  iiptn.  Talbut  Utterly  Refused  to  show  it  To  them  or  to  Lett  them  see  it, 
so  that  we  the  subscribers  cannot  tell  what  is  properly  petitioned  tor, 
and  are  therefore  Rendered  incapable  of  making  any  objections  or  to 
manifest  nur  unwillingness  to  have  it  granted,  having  nothing  but  c(nn- 
uion  talk  to  cniisidei'  of,  wliicli  grieves  us  and  puts  us  to  a  stand  what  to 


APPKNOIX.  351 

il(»,  now  may  it  pleas  this  (Jicat  and  iidiiKid  ('(turt.  If  we  offer  any  tliiiij"' 
as  objections  to  ye  >;raiitiiiu  sd  iictitioii,  it  ( aiinot  be  certain  for  we  know 
not  certain  what  they  petition  tor:  If  onr  neibours  wouhl  be  a  Township, 
we  humbly  conceive  tliat  cannot  be  witliont  the  Towns  willingness,  for 
Townships  are  to  continne  as  they  are  by  onr  Charters  and  Laws,  and  If 
it  be  a  precinct  that  onr  neighbonrs  wonld  have  according  as  is  talked 
abont,  it  is  not  i)ossible  to  answer  the  end  tliey  propose  to  themselves 
and  it  will  certainly  pnt  snch  a  charge  on  tlie  midle  part  of  the  Town 
who  live  npon  small  Lots  that  they  will  not  be  able  to  beare  it.  bnt  mnst 
we  fear  Dismis  onr  setled  minister  and  qnit  onr  houses  and  smal  Lots 
and  move  into  the  ont  parts  of  the  Town  too  Or  I>eave  tlie  Town  quite, 
all  that  we  can  .say  farther  is  nntill  we  are  farther  acqnainted  with  the  sd 
petetition  is  earne.stly  to  pray  This  great  and  General  court,  that  the  mat- 
ter may  wholly  sease,  or  at  Least  be  suspended  that  the  matter  may  lie 
farther  considered  In  our  Town,  and  If  it  may  fairly  and  in  a  christian 
way  be  Debated  among  us  which  we  humbly  conceive  may  stop  a  great 
Deal  of  Trouble  and  Contention  among  us.  and  we  are  humbly  of  opinion 
that  ye  true  state  of  the  matter  cannot  be  known  by  what  is  oftored.  but 
If  there  be  any  farther  proceedings  about  it,  we  pray  a  f'ommite  of  Ue- 
mote  persons  be  chf>sen  to  vew  what  is  Desii-ed  and  hear  what  may  be 
said  and  make  Report  to  this  great  and  generall  court  att  ye  Tharge  of 
tliose  that  Trouble  us.  The  .Select  men  not  agreeing  in  making  answer  to 
this  honrd  Court  they  warnd  another  Town  metting  June  1st  ITOi)  and  ye 
Town  and  petitioners  mett  Together  to  chuse  a  commite  and  the  Town 
made  a  choyce  of  us  the  subscribers  to  act  and  make  answer  to  this  lionrd 
Court  and  .so  pray  that  Cxod  almighty  Direct  in  this  and  all  the  weighty 
affairs  before  in  this  time  of  Difficulty  we  subscribe  your  honord  humble 
servants 
Dated  June  .")th  17(1!  1. 

James  Leonarro         ] 
Phillip  King  I 

Thomas  Harvey         |-Commitey 
Thomas  GilBert         | 
Jorathan  padelford  j 

Some  of  the  Southern  residents  however  did  not  concur  in 
the  foregoing  petition,  but  sent  in  this  remonstrance,  which  indi- 
cates a  need  of  a  school  master  quite  as  much  as  of  a  minister. 

To  his  Exelencey  the  governor  Capt.  giniaril  In  and  over  his  maiest.es 
province  of  the  masachu.setts  bay  in  New  Ingland:  and  lieeir  maeistes 
Councel  and  to  his  honnourable  house  of  Hepresentatives  sitting  at  bos- 
ton febnarey  24th  1708  may  it  pleas  this  great  and  general  Court  to  here 
the  humble  petishiim  of  ns  whose  names  are  mider  writon  being  the  iii- 
habetence  of  the  south  pnichas  that   behmgeth    to   Taunton:  We  under 


352  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

stand  some  of  our  neighbours  of  sd  south  purchase  have  proposed  a 
petishio  to  gether  with  some  of  the  East  side  of  Taunton  oreat  River 
whose  hands  are  to  sd  petishion  for  township  or  presink  we  pray  tliat 
no  such  thing  may  be  for  these  Resens  folowing  1.  We  aie  but  fu  in 
number  2.  The  most  of  us  young  beginirs  having  great  laings  out  to 
to  subdue  tlie  wildrnes  and  to  build  houses  to  dwell  in.  :>.  the  great- 
ness of  Rates  by  Reson  of  wars  and  long  continuing  and  no  appearance 
of  ])eace  and  that  we  cannot  expect  peace  so  long  as  every  mans  hand 
is  ngainst  his  neighbour  4  we  are  informed  our  neighbours  of  the 
south  purchas  have  made  artickles  of  agrement  that  they  will  build  the 
meeting  house  upon  their  one  Cost  and  Charge  and  be  at  the  Charge  of 
setting  an  atardoxe  minister  and  half  charge  of  ferebots  tofere  over  sd 
River  which  will  be  several  hundreds  of  pouus  lost;  it  will  be  Runus  to 
us  and  them  if  any  such  thing  be:  Sly  the  defilcy  of  feren  over  the  River 
by  Reson  of  else  often  fresing  and  thain  that  it  is  so  un  serting  that 
some  of  Those  most  Knoing  the  River  Latly  fell  threw  the  ise  and  were 
in  great  Danger  of  Drowining:  (ily  great  Diffilcy  by  Reson  of  the  waters 
exces  of  swiftnes  up  the  River  and  some  times  down  some  tides  with 
wind  very  dangrous  pasing  acros  some  times  by  great  floods  Riming  so 
swift  down  sd  River  dangrous  pasing  over:  71y  We  ar  not  willing  to 
love  our  Reverend  Mr.  yamuel  danfoth  who  is  and  will  be  we  hope 
until!  death  our  faithfull  menester  of  Jesus  Christ:  therefore  In  par- 
ticular we  pray  that  we  may  not  be  Removed  from  under  his  faithfull 
ministrey:  81y  we  pray  as  childrin  to  their  father  that  you  would  not 
sufer  aney  such  thing  to  be  because  we  are  not  able  to  bare  it  by  Reson 
of  our  in  ability :  the  litle  bee  when  neley  swarmed  is  destitute  of  honey ; 
Dly  We  wer  not  In  formed  of  sd  petishion  untill  we  were  Informed  by 
sd  generall  court:  and  that  we  dooe  owne  one  quarter  part  of  sd  south 
liurchas  as Oiu-  one  freehold:   lioi)iiig  in  your  clemency  yours  to  i)ray  for. 

nicolas  morey  James  Walker  sen. 

eleazer  Walker  elezabeth  emerson 

James  Walker 
John  Ward 
Nathan  Walker 

'I'he  General  Court  feeling  much  perplexed  at  this  variety  of 
view.s  in  the  persons  most  interested,  resolved  to  send  a  committee 
to  examine  and  report  upon  the  subject,  in  these  words: 

Fixiii  llic  IbMiing  of  the  scvcnil  I'clitioiis  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
North  A-  Soiilli  I'lircliMscs  in  'I'auntoii,  to  be  made  .separate  Precincts  for 
the  Seltling  A-  Siiiipoit  of  tlie  Ministry  in  the  respective  Places. 

I.'csoKcd  lliat  \;illi;iiiiel  TlioniMs,  \;itb;niiel  Uylield  and  James  War- 
ren   I'lsiiis.  l)c  :i  (onimittee  to  repair  to  'l':iinitoii,  A-  \'it'\v  tliesaid  several 


APPKNDIX.  353 

Purchast'S.  &  T']i()ii  roiisidcrMlioii  of  nil  C'iiciinistinicfs.  to  sett  oil'  ])i(i|>('r 

Pi't'fiiicts  t(i  fiicDiiia.m'  till'  u I    I'liids  (Icsiicil  liv  tli(i  l\-titionei's.  ;ni(l  to 

iidvisf  A-  Direct  In  tin'  iiiDst  siiitnlilc  I'hiccs  lor  tlu'  liaising  of  tlieiv  Meet^ 
ing  Iloiist's.  ami  to  make  tlu-ir  I.'citort  to  tin-  next  Session  of  this  foni't 
for  Ooiifirniation,  Xafiiaiiiel  'I'lionias  l'",s(ir.  to  appoint  the  'I'iuie:  The 
Charges  of  llie  s;ii(l  romniittee  to  he  horn  hy  the  said  I'reeincts. 

Well  liesolve  heing  sent    (hiwii   to  tlie   l!e]>resentvfs  Was  ('on(  in"d   l)y 

tiiat  Tfcnise And  is  Consented  to.  .1.    Dndiey. 

(J)ato  of  meeting.  .Inne  s.   ITHti.) 

Thi.s  Committee  re|3orted  a.s  follow.s: 

•' Pursuant  to  au  Order  of  the  Great  &  Genii  Court  dated  June  ye 
otli  1700  to  us  Directed  to  Repaire  to  Taunton  it  vew  the  severall  Tracts 
of  land  which  the  fnhabitants  of  the  North  &  South  Purchases  in  Taun- 
ton have  Petioned  to  be  made  separate  precincts  for  the  settling  & 
suport  of  the  Ministry  in  the  said  Respective  Places. 

And  We  the  subscribers  haveing  vewed  tlie  said  severall  Tracts  tt 
Heard  the  allegations  of  the  opposite  Partys  thereto  upon  Consideration 
of  all  Cirenmstances  have  set  the  bounds  of  the  seveiall  piecincts  as  fol- 
loweth 

That  is  to  say  'i'hat  the  bounds  of  the  North  Piecinct  according  to 
their  Petition)  shall  begin  at  the  Line  between  the  two  old  Colonys  of 
the  Massiichusetts  &  Plimouth  in  the  line  of  the  bounds  between  Taun- 
ton North  Purchase  &  Attlebury  &  from  thence  Southward  toRehoboths 
Northeast  Corner  &  from  theuce  Eastward  on  the  said  No.  Purchase  line 
to  Taunton  bounds,  &  thence  Eastward  to  the  Mouth  of  the  brook 
Called  hurts  brook  leaving  out  Capt.  Hodgess  land  at  Birts  brook  & 
Extending  from  the  Mouth  of  Burts  brook  to  the  bridge  made  over 
the  Mill  River  near  Wm.  Witherells  &  from  thence  North  Eastward  to 
the  North  Purchase  line  &  from  the  North  Purchase  line  the  road  that 
leads  from  said  brig  towards  Norton  to  be  the  bounds  till  it  come  to  the 
line  Betwen  the  said  late  Colonys  which  line  to  be  the  bounds  to  Attle- 
})nry  bounds  aforesd. 

And  that  the  Meeting  house  for  the  said  North  Precinct  shall  be 
sett  on  the  Northward  side  of  the  way  that  leads  over  Rumford 
River  at  Crosmans  Way  at  the  Place  where  the  way  Crosseth  it  that 
leads  from  John  Hodges's  to  the  Beech  Island. 

And  the  bounds  of  the  Precinct  of  the  South  Purchase  aforesd  shall 
(according  to  their  Petion )  be  the  Line  between  Tan  ton  Town  old  Bounds  & 
the  said  South  Purchase  &  from  the  Mouth  of  three  Mile  River  to  the 
Maple  Tree  att  assemitt  River  at  the  Road  of  freeTown  land.  And  that 
the  Meeting  house  for  the  said  South  Precinct  shall  be  set  on  the  West 
side  of  the  way  near  Capt.  Jerard  Talbntts  house  according  as  the  I'eti- 
tionrs  have  agreed. 


354  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

In  testiiviony  wlioreof  We  liave  lienninto  set  our  hands 

NATHANIEL  THOMAS. 
N.  BYFIELD, 
10th  Sept.,  17UU  In  Council.  JAMES  WAKI^EN. 

Read  and  accepted.     .Isa.  Addiu^ton.     Socry. 
Sent  down  for  concunence 
Sept.  16  1709.     Read 
In  the  House  of  liepiesentatives. 

Sept.  10  170!).     Read  &  Concurred  witli  the  Proviso  annex'd 
John  Clark  SjK'akcr. 
Diepredict 
.V^reed  to  the  l^rovisio  In  Council 

Jsa.  Addington  Secrj'. 
Provided  tliat  the  East  End  of  the  North  Purchase    shall  have  hall'e 
the  said  Purchase,  as  their  Precint;  when  they  are  al)le  to  maintain  n 
Minister,  &  this  Court  judge  them  so. 

Hut  soon  this  South  ])recinct  was  anxious  to  l:)econie  a  sejxirate 
town  and  petitioned  for  that  purpose,  on  whirh  this  action  was 
taken  by  the  House  of  Repiesentatives. 

"  Upon  reading  a  petition  of  C!pt.  Jared  Talhot  Agent  for  &  in  the 
Name  ct  Behalf  of  the  Inhahts  of  the  South  Precinct  in  Taunton,  Pray- 
ing to  have  their  Bounds  circumscrihed  &  ascertained  &  to  he  made  a 
Township  of  them  selves; 

Ordered  That  the  Petitioner  Cause  the  Select  Men  of  Taunton  to 
be  served  with  a  Copy  of  this  Petition  to  notify  them  that  they  attend  a 
Hearing  of  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  before  this  Court  on  Friday  the 
tenth  of  November  next,  if  they  continue  to  sit  so  long.  If  they  have  any 
Thing  to  object  thereto,  Otherwise  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  the  next  Ses- 
sion. 

Concurred  by  the  Representatives: — Consented  to,  J.  Dudley. 

(Date  of  meeting,  October  -'7th  1710. 

If  any  opposition  was  made  to  tlie  creation  of  a  new  town  it 
was  not  successful,  and  in   1712,  an  order  was  passed  as  follows: 

I^pon  Reading  a  Petition  of  Cpt.  Jared  Talbot  Agent  for  the  Soutli 
Precinct  in  Taunton,  Praying  in  the  name  &  Behalfe  of  tlie  Inhabitants 
of  the  said  Precinct  that  they  may  be  made  a  Town,  as  ])rayed  for  in  a 
formei'  Petition. 

Ordered  that  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted  for  a  Townsliip 
The  Town  to  be  named  Dighton,  There  having  been  a  Hearing  betwixt 
the  Petitioners  d;  the  Agents  for  the  Town  of  'I'aunton  before  this  Court 
in    afornier  Session  some  Tinu'  since,  and    that  upon    the   application  of 


APPENDIX.  355 

the  Select  Men  of  Taunton  or  of  Dighton.  tlie  former  Committee  assignetl 
to  survey  &  propose  a  Line  for  the  I'rec^inet  be  desired  &  impoweied  to 
perfect  fully  describe  <t  ascertain  the  Line  throughout,  &  Report  the 
same  to  this  Court,  Not  including  any  Land,  but  what  is  property  within 
the  Township  of  Taunton,  Saving  the  Determining  the  ('harge  of  the 
Building  &  Repairing  of  Bridges  upon  a  Hearing  at  any  Time  before 
this  (!ourt.  as  also  a  Proportion  of  all  Arrearages  of  Town  Charges  ac 
cruing  wliilst  Taunton  Townshi])  remained  entire  before  division,  and 
that  a  Piatt  of  this  Townsliii)  l)e  presented: 

Concurred  by  the  Representatives: — (Consented  to,  J.  Dudley. 

(Date  of  meeting,  May  oO,  1712.) 

The  luvvn  of   Dighton  was  thu.s  somewhat  irregularly  created, 

but  in  1744  a  contirniator}-  act  was  passed,   defining  the  bounds  as 

follows  : 

AN  ACT  FOR  ASCERTAINING  THE  BOUNDS  OF  THE  TOWN 

OF  DIGHTON; 

AND  FOR  THE  CONFIRMATION  OF  THEIR  POWERS  AND 

PRIVILEGES. 

[S  Prov.  Sts.,  p.  215. J 

WHEREAS  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twelve  the 
South  Precinct  in  Taunton  was  erected  into  a  township  by  the  name  of 
Dighton,  but  the  bounds  thereof  were  not  fully  ascertained  and  by  rea- 
son thereof  of  late  there  have  some  disijutes  arisen,  and  upijlication 
hath  been  made  to  this  court  to  ascertain  the  bounds, — 

BE  IT  ENACTED  BY  THE  GOVERNOUR,  COUNCIL  AND  HOUSE 
OF  REPRESENTATIVES, 
(Sect.  1.)  That  the  bounds  of  the  said  town  of  Dighton  shall  be  as 
follows;  viz. :  beginning  at  a  heap  of  stones  by  a  rock  near  the  water  side 
on  the  westerly  side  of  Broad  Cove  and  from  thence  running  Westerly 
to  a  heap  of  stones  near  Bristol  old  path;  and  from  thence  westerly  to 
a  heai#  of  stones  near  two  miles  from  said  Broad  Cove  and  then  running 
northerly  about  two  miles  to  a  stump  of  an  ash  tree ;  thence  west  and 
by  north,  to  Rehoboth  ancient  line,  to  a  stake  and  stones  about  it,  being 
the  north  corner  of  the  town  of  Swanzey,  and  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  said  town  of  Dighton ;  thence  northerly  on  a  straight  line  to 
a  marked  tree  commonly  called  the  "Horseshoe;"'  thence  easterly  by 
marked  trees  down  to  the  Three  Mile  River,  so  called;  then  with 
said  River  to  Taunton  Great  Elver;  then  down  Taunton  Great  River 
till  it  comes  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned,  together  with  Assonet(t)  Neck, 
so  far  northerly  as  to  come  to  the  northerly  bound  of  the  land  that  was 
Mr.  Edward  Shove's;  and  that  the  land  included  within  the  bounds  afoie- 
said  shall  always  hereafter  be  deemed  a  township  by  the  name  of  Digh- 


35^  QUARTER    ^ril.I.F.XNTAI.    CF.I.F.RR  ATIOX. 

ton  ns  aforesaid :  and  tlmt  the  inhabitants  tlieveof  be  invested  with  the 
powers,  privileges,  and  immunities  that  tlie  inhabitants  of  any  of  tlie 
towns  witliin  tills  province  by  law  are  or  ouj;lit  to  be  invested  with,  iiiiy 
law,  order  or  eustom  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

(Sect.  2.)  .Vnd  all  fornii'r  acrs  and  proceedings  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  said  town  of  Dighton  are  hereby  declared  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
as  valid,  and  of  as  full  effect  as  if  the  said  town  had  by  an  act  of  this 
court  been  incorjiorated  and  vested  with  the  powers  and  privileges  of  a 
township  at  the  time  of  their  being  taken  off  from  Taunton,  (U'  sep(e)- 
(a)rated  as  aforesaid. 

PROVIDED  ALWAYS.— 

(SECTION  o. )  That  property  shall  not  be  affected  by  this  act,  any 
construction  thereof,  or  of  any  part  thereof,  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing.    Passed  January  S.  1744. 


APPENDIX    Z. 

[Pa-e  53.] 
The  following"  is  the  act  creating  tlie  town  of  Raynhani. 

l^rovince  Laws.  17:!ii--ll.  ("h.  14. — An  act  for  dividing  the  town  of 
Taunton,  and  erecting  a  new  town  there  by  the  name  of  Kaynham. 

Whereas  the  town  (if  Taunton,  within  the  tounty  of  Bristol,  con.sists 
of  a  great  number  of  inhabitants,  and  the  northea.sterly  jjart  thereof  is 
competently  tilled  with  inhabitants,  who  have  addressed  this  court  to  be 
set  off  a  district  and  scp(a)  (e)rate  townshij). — 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  His  Excellency  tlu'  (Tovcrnour.  (  (nnuil 
and  Kepresentativcs  in  (iciicTal  (Ouit  assembled,  and  lis  tlie  authority 
of  the  same. 

(Sect.  I.)  That  the  north-easterly  part  of  Taunton,  as  hei'cafter 
bounded  and  described,  bi'  aiul  hereby  is  set  off  and  constituted  a  sep(a) 
(e)rate  township,  by  the  nami'  of  Ivaynbam:  the  bounds  of  the  said  town- 
shijj  to  be  as  followeth:  \i/..  on  the  east  by  Hridg(e)water  line:  on  the 
south  by  Taunton  (;i-eat  b'ixcr.  iii<ludinii  ail  thelandof  Lieutenant  Kben- 
czer  nobinsdU  on  llie  ^out  h-easlerl\  or  soutli  side  of  s(ai)d  rixcr  (except 
that  ])(ie)ei)ce  ot  land  liy  his  saw  mill,  near  tlie  tiiinace.  which  is  in  Mi<l- 
dleborougli  iireciiict):  Iheui-e  down  said  ri\er  to  the  bounds  lietwceii  the 
land  of  'fiiomas  Dean  and  Nathaniel  Williams,  at  tlie  place  called  Shallow 
Watei-:  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  tlie  east  euil  of  I'losi.ecl  llili.  at  the 
going  over  ol  the  w  a\  :  including  w  it  iiin  said  new  tow  nslii|)  ail  the  land  of 
Zephaniah  Leonard,  and  that  which  was  toiinerly  <  apt.  .hinies  LeonariTs. 


Al'l'EXDlX.  357 

wliicli  Jnincili  t(i  .\]\<l  \<  ciii  tlic  west  >i(Ic  of  s:iiil  line.  —  wliicli  is  to  ii;iy  liis 
])r(>]M)rti(Hi  (it  ;ill  iMiMirk  cIkii^cs  to  siiid  new  tow  iislii|i. — :niil  cxcliuliii;; 
tlic  laml  of  N;itli;niicl  \\'illi;im>.  joiiiini;  to  mikI  on  the  cMst  side  of  said 
line.  —  wliicli  is  to  pay  his  iirojiort ion  of  imlilick  cliarucs  to  tlic  town  of 
Taunton:  tlicncc  to  run  noil  iicrly  tiy  said  way  to  the  meat  cedar  swamj) 
at  flic  liuin.u  in  of  the  urcat-island  way:  thence  to  cross  said  island,  and 
run  straight  to  hlaslon  line,  at  the  nearest  place:  thence  to  inn  easterly 
by  s(ai)d  I'";aston  line,  until  it  coines  to  l>rid<.i(e) water  line,  lirst  men- 
tioned: and  that  the  inliabitiints  of  tlie  said  lands,  as  before  dosciibod. 
are  hereby  accurdinj;ly  endowed  and  vested  with  all  powers,  privileges. 
immnnit(ie)(y)s  and  advantajies  wliieh  other  towns  in  this  piovince  by 
law  have  and  enjoy:  pror'nleil,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of 
Kaynhani  do,  within  the  space  of  three  years  from  the  publication  of 
this  act.  procure  and  settle  a  learned.  ortho(h>x  minister,  of  yood  conver- 
sation and  make  i)rovision  for  his  comfortable  and  honouiable  supjjort, 
and  likewise  provide  a  school  master  to  instruct  their  youth  to  read  and 
w  rite. 

Provided,  also, — 

And  be  it  fuitlier  enacted. 

(Sect.  •2.)  That  tiie  said  inhabitants  of  the  s(ai)d  town  of  Itayniiain 
pay  their  resiiective  proportions  of  all  taxt's  and  town  rates  that  arc  al- 
ready levied  r>r  assessed  upon  the  town  of  Taunton,  for  cliarj;es  hitherto 
arisen  within  said  town;  and  that  that  ])art  of  tlie  land  belons'inK  t(j 
.John  Kinji  and  I'liillip  Kin<;',  within  the  bounds  herein  described,  tliat 
lia(th)  (ve)  been  heretofore  exempted  from  payini;  public  char<:;cs  to  the 
town  of  I'annton,  be  also  in  like  manner  exempted  from  payinj;  any 
charj^es  towaids  this  new  townshi]i. 

( I'assed  April  '1:  i)ublished  April  "j,  \T-'>\. 


APPENDIX  .AA. 

The  act  crcatinu  the  town  of    Mcrklev  reads  liius  : 

An  act  for  dividing  the  towns  (it  Taunton  and  Di^hton.  and  creclinj: 
a  new  town  there  by  the  iiaine  of   IJeikcley. 

Wlicrcas    the     s(uitheily    part    of    'I'annton.    and    the    north    part    of 

Dijihton.  on  the  east  side  of  the  Great  I'iver.  is  c i)etently  fiir{e)fl  with 

inhabitants  who  laluiui  under  ditiiculties  by  reason  of  their  lemotcness 
fiom  the  places  of  publick  meetiuj>s  in  the  said   towns,  and  have  tliere- 


35^  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

u))on  niiuli'  thcirai)pli  cation  totliis  couit.that  tlioy  maybe  set  off  a  distinct 
and  sei)(a)(e)rate  townslii]).  and  be  vested  witb  all  tlie  powers  and  priv- 
ileges that  other  towns  in  this  province  are  vested  with. — 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  Council 
and  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  same. 

(Sect.  1.)  'i'hat  the  southerly  part  of  'i'aunton,  ;iud  tlie  northerly 
jiart  of  Dif^hton,  on  the  east  side  of  tlie  Great  Uiver,  as  hereafter 
bounded  and  described,  be  and  hereby  are  set(t)  off,  constituted  and 
erected  into  a  sep(a)(e)rate  and  distinct  towniship,  by  the  name  of 
Berkeley. 

(Sect.  2.)  The  bounds  of  the  said  townshiii  bein^  as  follows;  viz., 
beginning  at  the  great  river  at  a  forked  white  oak  tiee,  at  the  landing 
j)lace  between  the  land  of  Abraham  Tisdal(e)  andMicab  Pratt,  and  from 
thence  to  extend  on  a  streight  line  to  a  dam.  known  by  the  name  of  Lit- 
tle Meadow  Dam(ni);  from  thence  to  a  rock  with  a  heap  of  stones  on  it, 
in  the  said  Little  Meadow:  from  thence  to  extend  on  a  streight  line, 
until  it  intersects  the  line  of  the  precinct,  which  includes  part  of  Taun- 
ton and  part  of  Middleborough,  opposite  to  the  dwelling  house  of  John 
Williams;  from  thence  to  extend  on  said  i)recinct  line  to  the  )riaplc  tree, 
which  is  the  corner  bounds  of  Middleboiougli,  Freetown,  Dighton  and 
Taunton:  and  from  thence,  bounded  by  Freetown,  till  it  comes  to  a  littlt; 
knapp  or  hillock  of  upland,  being  the  bounds  between  Dighton,  Free- 
town, and  Assonet  Neck;  and  then  bounded  by  the  land  of  Mr.  Edward 
Shove,  till  it  comes  to  Taunton  river,  and  then  bounded  by  said  river,  till 
it  comes  to  the  first' mentioned  bounds. 

(Sect.  :]. )  And  that  the  inhabitants  thereof  be  and  hereliy  are 
vested  and  endowed  with  equal  powers,  privileges  and  immunities  that 
the  inhabitants  of  any  of  the  other  towns  within  this  j)rovince  are,  or  by 
law  ought  to  be  vested  with. 

Only 

(Sect.  4.)  It  is  to  be  understood  that  .lohn  Spurr,  Nicholas  Stevens, 
John  Tisilale.  Abraham  Tisdale,  Israel  Tisdale  and  Kbenezer  Pitts,  and 
their  families  and  estates,  are  not  to  be  imduded  in  said  township,  and 
are  to  belong  to  the  towns  of  Taunton  and  Dighton,  as  ft)rmerly. 

(Sect.  5.)  And  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Berkeley  are  hereby 
required,  within  the  space  of  two  years  from  the  publication  of  this  act. 
to  procure  and  settle  a  learned,  orthodox  minister  of  good  conversation, 
and  make  provision  for  his  comfortable  and  honouiable  supjjort,  and 
also  errect  and  finish  a  suitable  and  convenient  house  for  the  i)ublick 
worshij)  of  God,  in  said  town. 

Provided  also. 

(Sect.  (i. )  That  the  inhabitants,  included  within  this  township,  that 
heretofore  belonged  to   Taunton,  shall    from  time    to  time,  pay  towards 


APPENDIX.  359 

the  repair  of  Ware  Bridj;c  in  pr(ii)()rtion  witli  tin-  reniaiiiii)<;  part,  of 
Tamitoii,  accordiiif;-  to  their  assessnu-nt  in  tlie  hist  province  tax,  and  also 
tlieii' proi)ortion  of  the  rates  and  tax(!S  already  nnuh-  in  Taunton:  and 
tliat  that  part  of  this  new  t,o\vnsliii»  whi(di  beloiij;'d  to  Difrhton,  ]>ay  tiieir 
proportion  with  tlie  said  town  of  Difjhton  of  tlii^  arrears  of  their  out- 
standinji'  rates  already  made,  and  of  the  debts  due  from  the  said  town  of 
Dighton,  and  also  their  propoi'tiou  of  the  chai-.n'e  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  present  poor  of  the  town  of  I)ii;htou. 

(Passed  and  i)ublished  April  18.  lT-'>'>.     Prov.  Laws.   IT-U-").     Ch.  lit.) 


APPENDIX  BB. 

[Tii-i-e  5-i.l 

The  histor\-  of  ihc  settlement  of  New  'j'aunton  is  Ivilly  dis- 
closed in  a  copy  of  (lie  records  of  the  Proprietors,  which  has 
been  obtained  in  full  from  the  records  of  the  town  of  Westmin- 
ster, Vermont,  and  are  given  below.  '' Rumford  on  Merrimac," 
mentioned  hereafter,  is  well  known  to  be  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  the 
'•  Great  Falls  "  is  now  called  Bellows  Falls.  Twenty-eight  town- 
ships wei"e  laid  out  between  the  Connecticut  and  the  Merrimack 
rivers.  One  on  the  7C'i'sf  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  was  on  its  sur- 
vey called  "'Township  Number  One,"  and  being  granted  to  a 
number  of  persons  from  Taunton.  Norton  and  Easton,  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  from  Ashford  and  Killingly,  in  Connecticut,  who 
liad  petitioned  for  the  same,  was  named  ''  New  Taunton,"  as  most 
of  the  petitioners  were  from  this  town.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
proprietors  was  Jan.  14,  1736,  (O.  S.),  and  on  the  26th  Sept.,  1737, 
( O.  .S..)  only  nine  months  later,  the  allotment  of  shares  took  place. 
and  proposals  were  issued  for  building  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill. 
( )n  the  5th  of  .March,  1740,  the  true  northern  boundary  line  of 
Massachusetts  was  established,  and  New  Taunton  was  found  to 
be  not  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Af  II  (ri-iiit  mill  (ii-iii-nil  Cniirl  nr  Asstuibli/  J'm-  Ins  .\fiijesfirs  Pinr'nir<' 
■  1/  llir  Milssiir/insclts  lliiij  in  Xifi^  h'lii/laiiil  liri/iiii  It inl  liild  (it  BiisLmi  npnn 
]\'('iliies<Iinj.  I  In    Ticnih/  F/njIiih  Dmj  nf  May  17;!.')  mnl  rotiliuucil  by  xercrnl 


360  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

mljonvHmenis  I0  ]Vc(hics(l((j/,  the  Ninctefulh  Dni/  of  Norcmhcr  and furUicr 
rniitiin((^d  III/  i«lji>uriinii-iits  In  W<'d))ef«hiii  llic  T/iirly-firat  Dmj  nf  Dci-cuihcr 
I'niliiiviii;/  <ni<l  tlirn  mcl  Thufsilmj.  .hiiiiun-y  ]">,    ITO-"). 

Kdiiiiniil  Qiiiiiri/  Esquire  from  lln-  <  'oimnittee  of  both  Houses  on  tin  pe- 
litionsfor  Toivnsliips  <tT.  gore  in  the foUowinu  liei'orl,  viz.: 

The  Committfc  appointed  tin-  Fouitoentli  riinent  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  several  Petitions  for  Townships  now  before  the  Ck)nit 
and  ltei)ort  what  may  be  proper  for  the  Court  to  do  thereon.  Having' 
met  and  maturely  Considered  the  same  are  humbly  of  opinion.  Tliat 
there  be  a  careful  view  and  survey  of  the  lands  between  Merrimack  and 
(.'onnectieut  Kivers  from  tlie  north-west  lorner  of  liumford  on  ]\[erii- 
niaek  to  the  Great  Falls  on  Connecticut  of  Twelve  miles  at  the  least  in 
Breadth  or  north  and  south,  by  a  committee  of  Eleven  able  and  suitable 
Persons  to  be  appointed  by  this  Court,  who  shall  after  a  due  KnowledtiC 
of  the  nature  and  circumstances  thereof,  lay  the  same  into  as  many 
Townships  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  sijuaie  as  the  Land  in  width 
iis  aforesaid  will  allow  of:  no  Township  to  l)e  more  than  six  miles 
East  and  West,  and  also  Layout  the  Land  on  the  East  side  of  (Con- 
necticut liiver  from  said  Falls  to  the  Townshij)  laid  out  to  Josiali 
Willard  and  others  into  as  many  Townshii)s  of  the  Contents  of  six 
miles  square  as  the  same  will  allow  of:  and  also  the  land  on  the  west 
side  of  the  River  of  Connecticut  from  said  Falls  to  the  PIciuivalent  Land 
into  One  or  two  Townships  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square  if  the 
same  will  allow  thereof: 

Five  of  which  Committee  to  be  a  quorom  for  surveying  and  layin<;'  out 
the  Townships  on  each,  from  Rumford  to  ('onne(;ticut  River  as  afore- 
said: And  three  of  the  committee  aforenamed  shall  be  a  quorum  for  sur- 
vey iu<i- and  layin<;- out  the  Townsiiips  on  each  side  of  Connecticut  h'iver 
MS  aforesaid:  And  that  the  said  Committee  make  a  report  of  their  doins;s 
to  this  Court  at  their  sessions  in  ^lay  next  or  as  soon  as  convenit^ntly  they 
can.  that  so  the  Persons  wliosc  names  air  coutaincd  in  the  several  Peti- 
tions heri-after  mentioned,  vis:  In  tlic  f'etitioii  of  Ilopkinton.  In  the 
Petition  of  Salisbuiy  and  Alinsbiuy.  hi  tjic  Petition  of  Cainbridjic  In 
the  I'etition  of  I'.radford  mid  W'cwliani.  hi  tlic  Petition  of  llaverhil.  In 
the  Petition  of  ^lilton  and  Urookline.  hi  the  Tetition  of  Samuel  Chaiii- 
bei'laiii  and  .lonatliMii  .lewctt.  ;nid  in  tlic  i'etitioii  of  Xatliaiiiel  Harris  iVc. 
In  tlic  I'etitioii  of  ,Ste]ilieiis  Mild  (ioiildcii  mikI  ()I1i('|s.  hi  tlic  Petition  of 
.Mor<iMii  Cobl.  *c.  .loiiMtliMii  Wells  Ac.  hys<'oiiil.  and  .lolmsoii  A-c  In  the 
Petition  of  Ismmc  lyittle  etc  hi  the  retitioii  of  .loiiMtliMii  Powers  A-t  ■ 
.loliii  WliitiiiMii  l%s(|r  At.  Samuel  IfMSWood  A-c  .IosImIi  l''M])et  miuI  Others. 
■  loliii  Plyiit  Mild  (»t!icrs.  .lonathaii  IIowmkI  mimI  <>tliersof  P>rid.<;ewatei-. 
tliMt  liM\-c  not  licrcloforc  Itccii  Mdiiiittcd  (;rMnlc<'s  or  Scttl<Ts  within  the 
s[iMce  of  scNcii    ycMis  hist  pMst  of   or  in   Miiy    former  or  ( Hlier  (Jrantof  a 


AIM'KNDIX.  .l^)r 

'rownsliip  ur  jiiirticul;!!'  (ii;nit  on  condition  of  scttliiiji:  iind  tlnit  sli;ill  ;i]i- 
prar  and  ix'iw  security  to  the  \;duc  of  i-'orty  Pounds  to  iicrfonn  tlic  cou- 
ditions  tliat  sliall  he  enjoined  U\  tins  Court.  Miayl)ytlie  major  i)art  of  the 
Coniniittei!  he  admitted  (iiantees  into  one  of  the  said  'l'o\vushi)(s:  Tiu' 
Coniniittcf  to  give  ludtHck  notice  of  tlie  Time  and  I'lace  of  their  meetinj: 
to  admit  the  (iraidees,  wliich  ('ommittee  sliall  he  Impowered  to  I'"ni])loy 
Surveyors  and  chainmen  to  assist  them  surxfyinu  And  layiiiL;  out  said 
Townships.  Tlu-  Province  to  liear  the  cliar^c  and  he  re|)aid  l)y  tin'  (iran" 
tees,  who  may  l)e  admitted,  the  whoh'  ehai.^c  tliey  sludl  advance.  Wlncii 
committee  we  ap[)relH'nd  ouyht  to  he  directed  and  impowered  toadnnt 
sixty  settlei's  in  eatdi  'l'ownsl)ip  and  take  tiieir  lionds  payahh'  to  tiie  com 
nnttee  and  tlieir  successors  in  tlie  said  trust,  to  tlie  use  of  tiu'  I'ro\iuce 
for  the  ]>erforinanci'  of  tlu'  conditions  of  tlu-ir  (irant       \iz. 

'i'liat  eacli  (Jrantee  ]>uild  a  Dwelling  House  of  Kiyiiteen  feet  s(|uare 
and  seven  feet  stud  at  tin;  li'ast.  on  tlu'ii'  respectixc  Home  lots,  and  !•"(  iice 
in  an(]  hreak  u]i  for  IMowini;.  or  clear  and  stock  with  Kn^iisli  (irass  i'"i\e 
Acres  of  1/ind  within  three  years  next  after  their  adnuttance.  and 
cause  their  I'l'spt'ctixc  Lotts  to  lie  inliahited:  Anil  (hat  the  (irantees  do 
within  the  sjtiice  of  Three  years  fiom  the  time  of  their  hein<;  admitted 
Huild  and  furnish  a  convenient  Meeting;  Ho\isi'  for  the  Puldiek  Woiship 
of  (hxI,  and  settle  a  Learned  Orthodox  ^finistei-:  and  in  ease  any  of 
the  (irantees  shall  fail  Or  nej^lect  to  jierform  what  is  enjoined  as  ahove. 
'{"lie  Comnnttee  shall  he  ohlij^cd  to  juit  the  Bonds  in  suit,  and  take  pos- 
sesion of  the  Lotts  and  Ui<;hts  that  shall  heconu'  foifeit.  and  proceed  to 
Urant  them  to  Other  I'ersons  that  will  apjiear  to  fultill  tlu'  conditions 
within  (me  year  next  after  the  said  last  mentioned  (irant.  And  if  a  suf- 
licient  luunher  of  Petitioners  that  lia\f  no  (want  within  se\en  years  as 
aforesaid  (viz.)  (sixty  to  cadi  j'ownslii]!)  do  not  ap]>ear.  Others  may  he 
adnutted.  i'ro\  ided  they  ha\c  fidlilled  tlie  < 'onditioiis  of  their  fornu-r 
(iraiit:  The  Committee  to  take  caic  that  there  he  sixty  three  llonn'  Lotts 
laid  out  in  as  reiiular.  com]iact  and  defensihle  a  manner  as  the  Land  will 
allow  of.  One  of  whicli  Lofts  siiall  lie  for  the  First  settled  .Minister. 
One  for  the  second  settled  Miuister.  an<l  One  foi-  the  School:  to  eacli  of 
which  an  e<|ual     IMdjioitiou  of   Lanils  siiall  accrue  in  all  future  Divisions. 

Hy  order  of  the  Committee  Edward  (Juiney 
Pryday  \ 

January    l(i.  IT-!").  ^  In  liie  House  of  Pepresentatives 

( trdered.  That  Joseph  (ieirish.  IJenJannn  I'rescot.  Josiah  Willard. 
Joh  .Mniy,  Ks(|uires,  ^Ir  .Mosi's  I'ierson.  and  Cajitain  .Iuse])h  (iould  \\ith 
such  as  the  lloiiorahh'  P.oard  shall  join,  Ite  a  (^ommittee  to  all  inti'Uts  and 
purposes  to  elfect  the  Pusiness  projected  liy  the  I.'eport  of  the  Committee 
of  hoth  houses,  to  consider  the  Petitions  for  Townships,  whicli  I'ass'd 
this  Daw  \is.  on  the  proposed  Line  het\\  ceii  .Merrimack  and  (  dniiectiiiit 
i;i\-er    and    on    hoth    sides   of    Connecticut    i;i\cr.      .\iid.    that     there    he 


362  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

(Jnintfd  and  allowed  to  lir  paid  out  of  tin-  Puldick  Treasury,  after  the 
Itate  of  Fifteen  Sliilliniis  ]ivv  Diem  to  each  one  of  the  Committee  for 
('\ fry  Day  lie  is  in  the  serxicc  in  the  Woods,  and  sidtsistence,  and  Ten 
Sliillin<is  ])er  Diem  for  exery  Day  to  eacli  oiu'  of  the  said  Connnittee 
x\hile  in  the  service  in  adniittinu  Settlers  into  tlie  said  Toxvnslujjs  and 
Suhsistenci'  to  he  Pai<l  as  aforesaid. 

In  Council  IJead  and  Concni'red :  And  William  Dudley.  iSamuel  Wells- 
'I'homas  Herry.  .Joseph  Wilder,  and  .lolin  (liandler  .lunr.  Ks(|uires  are 
joined  with  tJie  Comniittet'  of  the  House  for  the  Line  between  .Merrimack 
and  < 'oun^'cticutt  Rivers  &c. 

At  a  (ii'cat  and  (ieneral  Court  Held  in  Boston,  tiie  Twenty  Fourth 
Day  of  Xoveniher  One  Thousand  .Seven  Huudre<l  and  thirty-six,  the  fol- 
lowini;'  Vote  Passed  the  Two  Houses  and  was  consented  to  hy  the  (rov- 
ernour.      \'is, 

\'oted.  '{"hat  Mr.  .lMse]di  Tis(hdc  of  Taunton,  he  and  lierelty  is  Im- 
powered  to  Asscndih' tlie  (irantees  of  tlie  'l"ownsliii>  Nundier  ( >ne  on  the 
west  side  of  (  onnecticnt  liivei'.  adjoiinni;  to  tlu'  F(iui\'alent  Land,  so 
<'alled.  (Mvin;.;  Tinudy  notice  to  tlic  said  (irantees  admitted  into  the  sai<l 
■|'ownshi]>.  hy  the  ( 'onnnittec  of  this  (  duit.  an<l  to  meet  in  Taunton  where 
they  live.  In  order  to  chuse  a  .Moderator  and  I'roprictors  Cjerlv  and  Com- 
mittei'  tf)  allot  and  Divide  tlieir  Lands  and  to  dispose  of  the  sanu'  and  to 
Pass  sued)  Votes  and  Orders,  as  liy  tliem  may  he  thou.yht  conducive  foi- 
the  sjx'edy  fulfillment  of  tlic  conditions  of  tlicii' ( Jrants.  .Vnd  also  to 
aiiree  ujion  nudhods  for  calliuLi  "f  meetings  for  tlu'  future;  l'i-ovi(h'd. 
none  of  their  \otes  coiicerniuL;  tiie  Dixiilin^or  Disposing' of  tlu'ir  Lauds 
that  sliall  Itc  Passed  while  tlu'v  arc  under  tlic  cari'  and  direction  of  tlic 
ConHnittcc  of  this  Court  sliall  he  of  foj-ce.  heforc  they  arc  allowed  n\'  liy 
the  said  ( dmmittce. 

The  records  of  these  (irantees  of  township  No.  One  proceed 
to  state  as  follows  : 

.Vt  a  Lciiall  meetinn  of  tlic  i'loprictois  or  (xrantci's  of  the  'I'owuship 
\o.  One  on  the  west  side  of  Conecticutt  iv'i\er:  Xcar  tlie  (iri'at  I'^alls 
witiiin  tlic  Line  of  Towns,  within  iiis  Majesties  I'rovince  of  'i'lic  Massa- 
chusetts P.ay  in  New  Fnii'land  which  said  meeting':  was  warned  hy  Cai)t. 
.lose]ih  Tis(hilc.  I'ursuaiit  to  a  vote  or  (udcr  of  the  (Jreat  and  (;cueral 
Coui't  of  the  Pro\  incc  atforesaide  and  I  Icld  at  tlic  Schoolc  House  in  Taun- 
ton .lanuarx  tlic  fourteenth,  .\.  D.  IT'.ii  .\nd  then  Passed  'I'lic  follow  ini: 
Notes  \i/..— 

1st  N'otcd  'i'hat  Dca<(.n  Samuel  Sumner  he  .Mod<'rator  of  said  .Meet- 
inu  li\  the  Major  ]iait  of  votes.  Ivicli  ( >nc  \  otin.u  accordiim'  to  his  Interest 
which  choice  was  hy  a  i^rcat   .Majority. 

'_'d  \dtcd  Tliat  .lames  Williams  he  pidiuictors  ClcrU  for  said  Town- 
ship,   and  was  then  sworn   to  said   Trust    am!    then    said    mectinu-  was  ad- 


APPEiNDIX.  S^3 

jounuMl  to  the  I)\vi-lliiiii  liousi- of  ('■.\\>t.  .losciili  'risdiilc:  mihI  'I'licii  iiiic- 
diatt'ly  met. 

."'.1(1  \'i>rc(l  'I'liiit  the  s;ii(l  Clerk  tortliwitli  Piucliasc  at  tlie  said  I'ln 
lirii'tors  cost  and  cliainc  a  suitable'  IJook  in  older  to  iteeord  tluTe  votes 
and  proceedinjis  in  tlie  Dividinij  it  settlinj;'  said  Town  accordin<»-  to  Mii' 
said  Courts  Direction. 

4tli      Noted 'I'hat He    a    ('(unmitte    to    llejiair   to    said    'rownsliip 

(iianted  as  aforesaid  and  Lay  Out  Sixty  'I'liree  Home  l.ottsiu  niaiiner  a> 
the  said  (xrantees  shall  Diicct. 

.•)th     V<)te<l  That  the  al.ove  said >liall    he    ot  the  Nuiiiher  of  six 

men  and  that  any  four  of  them   shall  I'.e  a  (,|orum 

()th  N'oted  tluit  Cajit.  Joseph  'I'isdale.  Meut  .John  Harvey.  Kns.  Seth 
Sumner.  .Mr  Joseph  Eddy.  ^Ir  Edmond  Andrews  ami  .Mr  Ehenezer  Dean 
be  the  Committee  to  Proceed  in  the  s'l  affair. 

Tth  \'oted  That  the  Committee  aftoiesaid  lie  fully  imi)owere<I  to 
iini)loy  Surveyors  ct  Chain  men  an<l  \\\t>  ax  men  to  assist  in  layin*:' out 
the  Fiome  Lotts  in  said  \ew  To\vushi|i.  njioii  the  iii-ojuietors  ( Ust  tt 
Charo-e 

Nth  N'oted  That  the  Committee  afforesaid  Eay  (Uit  the  Sixty  tliicr 
home  Eotts  aecordinu  to  the  Direction  of  the  (General  Conit.  Each  I,ott 
not  to  exeed  fifty  acres:  nor  less  than  ten  acres  to  Each  Ilonu-  J,ott: 
And  to  proi»ortion  the  sanu'  accordin<;'  to  (Quality  that  so  Each  Eott  may 
be  of  E(iual  value,  as  also  to  appoint  a  suitable  place  foi'  the  meetini; 
honse  and  liay  a  Convenient  Itoad  or  Hoads  Through  the  said  Town:  and 
lay  the  Lotts  in  the  most  Defensible  manner  as  may  be:  also  Lay  out  a 
Convenient  Training  field  and  I'.uryiiiL;  [dace  Xear  the  Meetiii.u  House 
])latt,  as  also  lay  out  a  convenient  place  (if  any  there  be)  Xear  to  or  \vitli- 
in  said  home    Lotts  for  a  a  saw  mill  and  a  (iiist  MU] 

'.ifh  \'oted  that  the  intei\ail  Lands  or  so  much  as  the  sai<l  ('omiuit- 
tee  Think  lift  be  laid  Out  into  Sixty  three  i,otts  Thaf  so  each  ].idpi-iet(U- 
may  have  his  Lott :  and  the  Same  to  be  allotted  and  laiil  out  f<u-  (^)nality 
by  the  (Committee  altoresaid:  And  the  said  ('(unmiftee  to  ]Udcurc  a  I'lan 
of  the  survey  of  both  the  home  Lotts  it  intei\ail  l.,and  to  the  said  pro- 
prietors at  a  meetin<;  warned  for  that  End.  as  also  numbi'i-  the  said  J,otts 
both  of  upland  A-  intervail  with  the  seveial  boundaries  of  each  Lott  set 
forth  in  their  Said   Piatt*  Return. 

Itlth  N'oted  that  the  I'ommittee  aforesaid  Lay  out  flic  said  hoiuc 
Lotts  and  alot  the  Intervail  as  aforesaid:  fully  (^uuiilcat  and  fiiiisli  the 
Trust  Keposed  in  them,  and  make  their  IJeturn  to  the  said  proi)rietors  by 
the  twentieth  Day  of  June  Xext,  in  Order  the  same  may  be  Recordefl  in 
the  Clerks  OfHce  of  said  proiuiety:  In  Oi'der  Each  One  may  Draw  his  K'e- 
speetive  Lott:  and  may  take  a  Due  lease  to  comply  with  A-  fulfill  the 
Order  of  the  (iieat  it  (ieneial  Court  thereon. 


364  OUARTER    MILI.ENNMAL    CELEBRATION. 

lltli  ^"^>t(•^l  lliut  the  six  ('(iiuniittcc  affon'said  sliall  have  llic  sum  of 
I'avi'Im'  Sliilliii^s  ]icr  Day  allowed  and  I'aid  to  cacli  of  tlK'iii  fortlu'ii'  tiiiu' 
&  Ex})C'iisc  in  I,ayiii<i  said  Town  Sliij)  and  tliat  the  said  (Jonmnttcf  allow 
and  ])av  at  the  jiropiictors  cost  and  cliar^c  tlic  sum  of  tiffci-n  Shillin.^s 
I'lT  I)a\-  fo  cacji  Sui\('>  or  for  his  time  and  lv\)it'nco  in  Layinj;' ( )vit  said 
■{"own  Shiji  and  also  alU>\v  A-  ]>ay  I-".a<li  iliaiiunaii  and  cadi  ax  man  the 
sum  of  'Pen  Sliilliiiys  and   no  more    per  Day  for  his  time  and  Kxpensc. 

lL!th  X'oted  that  each  pvopriett^ir  ]iay  for  one  whole  Kinht  the  sum 
of 'I'hiity  Shillings  to  tlie  propvietois  Clerk:  and  hy  him  to  be  jiaid  to 
'apt.  Joseph  Tisdale  to  enable  said  ('onnnittei'  to  <xo  foiwai-d  and  (Jom- 
l)!eat  There  Trust,  the  said  thirty  shillin<;s  to  each  rij^ht  to  be  i)aid  as 
aforesaid — by  the  twentieth  of  Aprill  next:  and  said  CUerk  to  Keep  a  fair 
lJe<'<M-d  of  said  payments;  said  sum  to  be  paid  by  said  Tisdale  toward 
the  Cost  an<l  Charjje  of  the  allotment  of  said  Lands. 

b'.th  \oted  that  the  Clerk  (.f  said  ])ropriety  for  the  future  shall  I'.e 
and  is  full>  Impowered  upon  api)lication  to  him  matle  ))y  live  ]n(>i)iietors 
lu- (ii-autees  Desirinn  a  })roprierors  meetiui;,  and  there  in  sett  fiu'th  the 
tinu'.  placi' ai!d  ( )cation  of  such  meetiuii.  TJie  said  Clerk  is  forth  with 
Ordered  to  warn  a  nieetin<i' of  said  i)roprietois  by  posttinj;  up  a  notitiea- 
tion  at  the  ^leetiui;-  house  in  sd  Taunton:  and  therein  sett  forth  the  time 
place  iV-  ( )catiou  of  such  nu'ctinu.  allways  allowiuii  f()nvteen  days  N'otilica- 
tioii  to  said  I'roprietois 

UtJi  \'oted  That  Cai)t  .losi'iili  Tisdale.  Deacon  Samuel  Sunnier,  witli 
our  present  Clerk  be  I)esire<l  to  Draw  tJie  fon-coinu  votes  in  Order:  and 
that  they  lie  a  committee  fully  Impowered  to  ]u-eseid  the  same  to  the 
lion'' C<nnmittee  of  the  said  <'ourt:  and  Tray  foi-  Theri' allow  aii<-e :  and 
tlie  said  Clerk  to  attest  the  same  a  true  eojipy  Ami  then  the  said  meetiui; 
was  adjourned  untill  the  third  Day  of  febiuary  next  at  One  of  the  Clock 
in  the  after  noon  and  at  sd  time  to  meet  at  the  school  luuise  in  said  'i'aun- 
ton 

The  forteen  foretioinu  votes  is  ;i  true  Coii])y  of  the  I'l'oceediu.ns  of 
said  mcetiu".; 

Attest   .lames    Williams    i'ropiietois  Clerk 
To  The  1  Ion'-  Committee  of  the  ( ieueral  Court  : — 

We  the  subscribers  Committee  of  t  he  ( ;  raiitees.  Humbly  j'l-esent  tlie 
tourteen  fore  (Joinj;-  \'otes  to  Vour  lloii.  ami  I'rax  the  same  may  be  al- 
lowed: that  the  same  Pass  on  l.'ecord. 

-Ian.   1.").   I7;!(l. 

.loseph   Tisdale    I 

Samuel   .Sumuer     Commilt. 

.lames  ^\'illiams  1 

At  a  Mcctin-  .il    liic    Co: illccol    IJu'   (Jenci-.d    Court    .lanuarv    |Slh 

lT:;ii  '("lie    within   \olc-,   of   the    piopriclors  of  I  he  ( iiautees  of   the  Town- 
ship (irauted  to  a  number  of    the    hihabilanis   of   Taunton  is  allowed  and 


APi'Kxnix.  365 

:i))])r(i\i'il  (if  liv  ii>  tlic  siiliscritpcrs.  tlicv  Kr;isiiiii-  tlic  woi'd  (I>l;inlv)  in  tln- 
tniiitli  A-  littli  \(ilc,  ;iii(l  I'liiisiiio  tlir  \(.tr  for  I'.xin-  Tlif  Kfiuid  llnoU  tin- 
* 'niiiinitlcc  ll;i\iiiL;  pn'sidcil  the  s;mic 

In  the  Xaiiic  A-  li>   Order  of  llic  Coiiiniitti-f 
Wni   I)udlc> 
'I'liis  KtMonU-d  'I'liis  liflh  l)M\  ..f  .M;ir(  li  IT:;ti 

Ii\    me 

.lames  Williams  Piti|)ei'.   Clerk. 

l-'ehniary  -Id    \~'Mk     The   meetiii.u   adjourned   fiom    the   fouiteenth   of 

January  I7-'!ti  This  day   nu'f   aecovdin.<i    to    adjournment  and   then  the  sd 

meeting  was  adjouiiied  unto  the  twenty  third  Day  of  t'eln  iiar\  instant  at 

oni'  of  the  Cioek  in  the  afternoon :  and  tliere  to  meet  in  said  Sriiool  j  louse 

At  'I'he  Adjournment  Fel>ruary  2-"!d  ll'M'i    met     accordinj^ly 

lly     Voted  that  the  foi-e-ioin.^  votes   with  the  IIoiii'-  Oouiuiittee  of  the 

(General  (.'ourts  allowame,    15i-  Iteeorded   as  they  Now  staml  amended 

L'ly  Voted  That  those  persons  that  are  in  a  Hear  for  tonner  Cliar<;e 
for  jJreferriiiL;'  the  petition  to  the  (leiieial  T'ourt  and  in  viewing;' the  lan<l. 
now  (Jraiited.  shall  pay  tliere  allear  to  ('apt  .Joseidi  Tisdale  to  make  up 
tifteeii  shil]in<is  to  Kaidi  Higlit  for  the  said  Charge  \\  ith  w  hat  is  all  Fteady 
Paid:     and  tlieii  the  said  nieetin<i'  was  Dissolved 

James  Williams  Propr  Clei'k 

At  a  meeting'  of  the  Proprietors  (jf  tlie  Grantees  of  the  'I'ownshi])  N'o. 
1  on  file  west  side  of  Conneetieutt  Kiver  Pegan  at  Taunton  School 
House  the  Eleventh  Day  of  A  prill  1T->T 

Legally  warned  and  meet 

and  came  into  the  following  Votes   \'iz 

1st  Made  choice  of  Deacon  Samuel  Sumner  .Moderator  for  said  meet- 
ing and  then  the  said  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  dwelling  house  of 
Capt  Josei)h  Tisdale  and  there  to  meet  forty  minutes  after  twelve  of 
('lock  on  this  present  day — And  there  meet  according  to  adjournment. 

■2(\  A'oted  that  a  Rate  or  assesment  be  made  on  said  proprietors 
for  the  Gathering  in  the  Thirty  Shillings  to  Each  Right  as  voted  tlie 
fourteenth  day  of  January  Last:  with  the  aRear  voted  fehrnary  ;Jd  I7o(i. 

:31y  Voted  that  Cjipt  Josej^h  'I'isdale  James  Williams  and  Setli 
Staples  he  assesors  to  make  such  Rates  or  assessments  as  are  or  shall  he 
agreed  upon  for  this  present  year  l\v  said  proprietors 

4  Voted  that  Mr  Jonathan  Padelford  Jnn  he  Tolleetor  for  said 
projiriety  the  year  next  ensuing 

0  Voted  That  s'd  collector  shall  Inive  the  sum  of  twelve  pence  ui>on 
the  pound  for  gathering  and  c(dlecting  sncli  assesnients  as  shall  he  out 
Standing  from  and  after  the  first  Day  of  May  next:  and  said  assessors 
are  directed  1<>  deliver  no  assesnients  to  said  (-ollector  until  tlie  said  first 


^566  OITAKTER    MIT.I.P.NMAT,    CET.EBRATION. 

Day  of  May;  And  said  assesors  are  to  make  an  Addition  of  tlie  sum  of 
twelve  pence  upon  Each  pound  and  so  in  ])ro])oition  for  a  lessor  or 
(ireater  sum  for  the  i)ayment  of  the  Collector:  upon  Each  Wight  as  shall 
not  be  paid  by  the  said  first  day  of  May  next:  To  the  Treasurer  of  said 
propriety:  and  said  Treasurer  to  Keep  a  fair  Record  of  all  such  payments 
to  him  made  as  aforesaid:  or  to  be  paid  to  our  Clerk  agieable  to  the 
vote  of  the  fourteenth  of  January  I^ast 

(>     Voted  That  James  Williams  be  Treasurer  for  the  ensuing  yeai'. 

7  Voted  That  the  first  Monday  of  Aprill  yearly,  and  anualy  be  & 
shall  be  a  day  for  making  Choice  of  Officers  Necessary  for  said  propri- 
ety: and  the  Clerk  is  to  post  up  a  notification  thereof  at  Taunton  meet- 
ing house  yearly  fourteen  Days  at  least  before  said  meeting 

8  Voted  that  the  said  C^ommittee  is  forbid  the  perambulation  of 
the  out  side  Lines  of  said  Township  at  the  time  of  there  a  Lottmentof 
the  Home  I^otts  and  then  the  Question  was  Putt  whether  the  said  pro- 
prietois  will  petition  the  Great  and  General  Court  for  some  addition  to 
there  said  Township:  and  then  it  was  voted  that  said  article  Be  Refered 
to  the  next  meeting  of  said  propriety:  and  that  the  Clerk  Ensert  this  ar- 
ticle in  the  next  meeting  and  in  the  meantime  Lieut  Eliphlet  Leonard  be 
Desired  to  make  Encjuiry  in  said  affair  and  to  procure  such  coppys  of 
tlie  survey  of  the  Equivelant  Lands  as  shall  be  necessary  from  the  Plat 
and  Return  of  the  Eciuivelant  Land  as  may  sett  the  affair  in  a  true  Light> 
and  the  proprietors  to  be  at  the  Cost  of  Coppying  such  Records 

9  Voted  that  the  Committee  be  sworn  to  the  faithfull  Discharge 
of  the  Trust  Reposed  in  them  by  the  said  proprietors  in  Lotting  the 
home  Lotts  and  Entervail  according  to  the  votes  of  the  proprietors:  and 
that  the  .Surveyors  and  Chainmen  and  axmen  be  Like  wise  sworn  to  the 
faithfull  Discharge  of  there  Trust 

10  Voted  that  Lieut  Morgan  Cobb  be  added  to  the  Committee  in 
the  Room  and  stead  of  Mr  Edward  Andrews — Andrews  Declaring  his 
non  acceptance,  and  said  Cobb  to  be  allowed  as  a  Surveycu-  and  Commit- 
tee man  fifteen  Shillings  per  Day  for  his  time  &  Expence  and  in  said 
meeting  said  Cobb  Declared  his  acceptance  of  said  clioice 

11  \^oted  that  the  Treasurer  shall  pay  all  payments  to  him  made  of 
the  thirty  Shillings  to  Each  Right  to  the  five  Committee  or  the  major 
part  of  them  taking  a  Receipt  for  the  same  and  said  f'ommittte  to  be  ac- 
countable for  the  san>e  to  the  proprietors  alforesaid 

12  N'oted  tiiat  the  assesors,  ui)on  Capt  Tisdalcs  i)rescnting  his  ac- 
count to  them  »>f  former  aRears  and  they  allow  ing  the  same  shall  make 
there  assesment  ui)on  Defective  persons  accordingly 

l:}  Voted  that  all  persons  that  have  i»aid  in  thirty  shillings  with 
the  alJear  to  Each  rigiit  to  tln^  Treasurei'  for  said  ])ropriety  s'd  assesors 
are  to  cross  out  or  Cliancell  tiicrc  names  Itctorc  tlicy  Deliver  there  Rate 
Streake  to  the  Collei-tor 


APPENDIX.  367 

14  Voted  llial  nil  |icrsiiii.s  tli;it  liiivc  ;iiiy  tliiiiy  Due  to  Miem  toi'  for- 
mer services  for  viewing  flic  liaiid  petitioned  for,  \vli()se  iiceounts  liave 
been  formerly  allowed  by  the  pioprietors  as  (Committee  men  or  agents 
shall  have  the  same  Discounted  in  there  assessment  or  so  far  as  there 
proportion  is  to  ])ay  toward  said  assesnient  they  Giveino- a  Receipt  To 
the  Treasurer  before  said  first  Day  «>f  May  that  they  have  K'eceived  the 
said  snm  of  the  assesnient 

and  then  (!ame  into  said  meeting  tiie  Honf  Setli  Willard  Esqr  who 
adminestred  an  oath  to  Mr  Morgan  Cobb,  John  Harvey.  Seth  Sumner. 
Joseph  Eddy  and  Ebenezer  Dean  to  the  Discliarge  of  tliere  Trust  accord- 
ing to  the  v()te.  Jonathan  pacU-lford  Jur:  and  Seth  Tisdale  Chainmen :  all 
which  persons  Declared  there  acceptance  of  there  Choice  Respectively 

and  then  said  meeting  was  Dissolved 

Recorde<l   April!  l-2th  17:'." 

James  Williams   Proprietors  Clerk 

The  Names  of  Those  Persons  that  ware  admitted  Grantees  or  pio- 
l»rietors  of  The  Townshi])  No  1  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticut  River 
whom  the  Hon  Committee  of  tlie  General  Court  admitted  the  Ninteenth 
Day  of  November  ]1'-W:  which  s'd  persons  gave  Ronds  Respectively  for 
performance  of  the  conditions  of  said  (irant:  ^'iz. 

Joseph  Tisdale 

Joseph  Tisdale  in  the  Right  of  John  Crosman 

Joseph  Tisdale  on  the  Right  of  Joseph  Jones 

Joseph  Tisdale  on  the  Right  of  Benjamin  Crosman 

Joseph  Tisdale  on  the  Right  of  Jeremiah  Wittnell 

Joseph  Tisdale  on  the  Right  of  Samuel  Darby 

Joseph  Tisdale  on  the  Right  of  Stephen  VVilborc 

Samuel  Sumner 

Samuel  Sumner  in  the  Right  of  Benjamin  Willis 

Benjamin  Ruggles  in  the  Right  of  Henry  Richmond 

James  Williams 

Thomas  Clap  Nickols  Stephens 

Eliphelett  Leonard  William  Hodges  lM 

Dito  of  Henry  Hodges 

Dito  of  Franes  Liscomh 

Dito  of  Stephen  Wood 

Thomas  Clap  Samuel  Pratt 

Seth  Staples  J<din  Andrews 

Seth  Sumner 

Seth  Sumner   in  the  Right  of    Isaac   Merick 

James  Leonaid 

Morgan  Cobb  2d 

Edmond  Andrews 


368 


OUARTEK    Mir^LF.NNIAL    CELEBRATTON. 


Thomas  liinkou  Md 
Samuel  Williams 


.lolin    II;uve,v 

James  Leonard  .'.d 

Kdward   lilake 

Josiah  Linkoii 

Joseph  Willis 

F.liakiiu   Walker 

.lonatliiin  Padelford  .Tun 

Dito 

Dito 

Joseph  Baruey 

John  Smith  2d 

Joseph  Wilbore 

Jonathan  Barney 

I^benezer  Dean 

James  Walker 

Kbenezer  Smith 

Joseph  Eddy 

James  lieonard  "Jd 

Joseph  'Pisdale  on 

Dito 

Joseph  Tisdale,  Jnn., 
in  the  Kight  of 

James  Walkei-,  Jnn.. 

Joseph  Eddy, 

P^liphelet  Leonaid. 

James  Leonard, 
Dito 

Ezra  Dean. 

Morj^an  Cobb,  2d, 

I'^benezer  Dean. 

Ephriam  Dean, 

William  Ware, 

Siunuel  Sumner. 

James  Willian)s. 

.loseph  Eddy, 

John  Harvy, 

Kbenezer  (^obh, 

Israll  Tisdall, 
The  List  on  the  other  side  contains  the  persons  names  who  w:ire  ad- 
mitted (inintees  in  the  Townsliip  .No.   1  :  on  tlie  west  side  ot  Connei'tieutt 
Kiveron  tliare  i>etitit)n  to  tiie  (ieiieiiil  (Onit    jind    n;imed:    also    in  there 
said  petition  or  by  the 
of  \oven)ber  17o(). 


Tliomas  (Jilbert 


John  Tisdale 
Joseph  Drake 

Robert  Woodward. 
James  Walker. 
Nathaniel  Caswell. 
William  Haskins. 
David  Cobb. 
Morgan  Cobb. 

Simion  Cobb. 
Joseph  Richmond. 

William  'I'hayer. 
Stephen  Macombei, 
A  brain  Tisdale. 
William  Leonnnl. 
Stei)hen  (iray. 


)rdci    Lisint;  in    T.-innton  tVc:  admitted  this  lUth 


lU'ctird  Aj)ril  l;!th  IT^iT 
by  James  William 


l;!th  17:;T  )  Wm.  Dudley  by  Order  of  the  Com-  ( 

s  projtr  elerk.    (      mittee  foi' tiiis  purpose.  ) 


APPENDIX. 


369 


The  Aconipt  of  dipt  James  Leonard  for  money. 

Expended  at  Boston. 
The  acconnt  of  Capt  Tisdale  for  viewing  the  line  of 

Town  12  Days 
and  for  one  Pilott. 
The  accompt  of  Mr.  Andrews  for  his  travell  in  s'd 

affairs 
To  Mr.  Clapp  going  to  Boston 
To  Capt  Tisdale  going  to  Concord 
for  Deacon  Sumner 
for  Liuet  Eliphelet  Leonard  &  Mr  Joseph  Eddy 

44        1(1        0 
This  voted  and  allowed  the  articles  above  by  The  petitioners  in   a 
meeting  for  that  purpose. 

JOSEPH  TISDALE 
This  recorded  May  4th  1737 
by  James  Williams  propr  Clerk. 

Capt  Tisdales  account  of  what  the  proprietors  of  Taunton  New 
Township  have  paid  of  former  aRears  to  him  &  what  is  ytt  due  and  from 
whom 


2 

s. 
18 

d. 

)('> 

1) 

() 

1 

•• 

(i 

Vi 

(1 

II 

1 

K- 

0 

1 

IC. 

4 

i2 

2 

(I 

Paid 

Due 

s        d 

s        d 

Joseph  Tisdale 

15 

Dito  on  the  Right  of 

John  Crossman 

15 

Dito  on 

Joseph  Jones 

15 

Dito  on 

Benjamin  Crossman 

15 

Dito  on 

Jeremiah  Wittwell 

15 

Dito  on 

Samuel  Darby 

15 

Dito  on 

Stephen  Wilbore 

15 

Dito  on 

John  Smith 

15 

Samuel  Sumner 

15 

Dito  on 

Benjamin  Willis 

15 

Dito  on 

Stephen  Macomber 

15 

Mr.  Benjamin  Ruggles 

on  Henry  Richmond 

10 

5 

James  Williams 

(5 

V) 

Dito  on 

Abraham  Tisdale 

15 

Mr  Thomas  Clap 

Nicholas  Stephens 

15 

Dito  on 

Samuel  Pratt 

(> 

LI 

Eliphelet  Leonard 

William  Hodges 

15 

Dito 

Henry  Hodges 

15 

Dito 

Frances  Liscomb 

15 

Dito 

William  Haskius 

15 

Dito 

Stephen  Wood 

15 

370 


QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


Paid 


Seth  Staples  on  the  Ri<;lif 

Setli  Sumner 

Dito 

Capt  Jnnies  Leonard 

Dito 

Dito 

James  Leonard  3d 

Edward  Blake 

Jonathan  Padelford  Jnr. 

Dito 

Dito 

Dito 

Dito 

Dito  on 

Joseph  Wilhore 

Jonathan  liarney 

t^benezer  Dean 

Joseph  Barney 

Ebenezer  Dean 

James  Walker  Jnr 

Dito 

Ebenezer  Smith 

Joseph  Eddy 

Dito 

Joseph  Eddy 

Dito 

Joseph  Tisdale  Jur. 

Dito 

Dito 

Ezra  Dean 

Morgan  Cobb  2d 

Dito 

Ephraim  Dean 

William  Ware 

John  Harvey 

Dito 

Ebenezer  ('obb 

Israel  Tisdale 

James  Leonard  2d 


1)1'  John  Andrews 

Isaat^  Merick 

Morgan  ('obb 
David  Cobb 


]-) 
2 

If) 
15 

ir, 

\u 

V) 

T) 

IT) 

Thomas  IJnkon  Md  iS 

Samuel  Williams  Junor    11 

Josiah  Linkon  IT) 

Joseph  Willis  1") 

Eliakim  Walker  in 

15 

15 


Joseph  Richmond 


1(1 


Due 

s         d 

12         (i 


S         2 


12 
15 
15 


15 

James  Walker 

15 

Thomas  fJilbert 

9 
15 

(3 

Nathaniel  Cogswell 

15 

William  Leonard 

15 

Edmund  Andrews 

15 

John  Tisdale 

15 

Robmt  Woodward 

15 

Josei)h  Drake 

15 
15 

2      (i 

12 

0 

Sim  ion  Cobb 

15 

.  1 

14 

William  Thayer 

2       (i 
1       0 

12 
<» 

() 

Stei)hen  (Jary 

15 

1 

14 

12 


APPENDIX.  371 

The  account  of  Capt  Tisdale  onr  former  Clerk  of  what  each  inau 
hath  paid  to  yt  former  arrears  and  what  is  yett  due  from  each  proprie- 
tor Examined  by  us 

JAMES  LEONARD    ) 
Dated  May  8d  1737  E.  EZRA  DEAN,         }  ("ommittee 

SAMI'EL  SUMNER   ) 
Recorded  May  Otli  1737  by 

James  Williams  propr  Clerk. 

We  have  also  Examined  said  Tisdales  account  further  and  find  he 
hath  Rec'd  of  the  proprietors  on  the  account  of  former 
arrears:  t'21  =  15s=ld 

and  have  paid  out  to  those  that  have  served  the  propr 

in  vievvinoj  &  Obtaining  said  Township  21=8=G 

and  there  is  still  in  Capt  Tisdales  hands  £9=6=7 

We  also  find  that  Joseph  Eddy  hath  due  to  Ballance  5=10 — 

and  to  Eliphelet  Leonard  7=4=6 

To  Deacon  Sumner  0=9=4 

And  we  find  that  the  aRears  which  are  not  yett  paid  to 
said  Tisdale  are  as  on  the  other  side  £0=10=5 

Also  we  find  that  Capt  Tisdale  ought  to  be  allowed  by  the  Treasurer 
lis — Gd  pd  by  s'd  Tisdale  for  Eliakim  Walker.  These  accounts  we  have 
also  examined  at  the  same  time  as  within  mentioned 

Attest 

JAMES  LEONARD    ) 

EZRA  DEAN  }  Committee 

SAMUEL  SUMNER    ) 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Township  No.  1  on  the  west 
side  of  Connecticutt  River  warned  and  held  at  the  schole  house  in  Taun- 
ton on  the  20th  Day  of  May  1737  and  then  came  unto  the  following  votes 
viz 

1 — Voted  that  Mr  Samuel  Sumner  be  s'd  Moderator  for  s'd  meeting 

2 — Voted  that  the  whole  number  of  the  Committee  Surveyors  & 
Chainmen  &  Pilots  that  shall  be  imployed  upon  the  proprietors  Cost  in 
the  aLottment  shall  not  exceed  the  number  of  Eleven  men  of  which  two 
of  them  shall  be  surveyors  and  im]>loyed  as  Surveyors  in  said  a  Lott- 
ments. 

3 — Voted  that  the  whole  number  of  the  Committee  all  Ready  chosen 
Except  Leiut.  Morgan  Cobb  shall  be  and  are  fully  impowered  and 
chosen  Chain  Men;  and  that  Jonathan  Padelford  Jur  all  Ready  chosen 
a  Chainman  be  added  to^'the  Committee  and  that  each  of  them  shall 
have  the  sum  of  twelve  shillings  per  day  for  their  time  &  Expense  as 
was  voted  the  Committee  on  the  fourteenth  of  January  Last 

4 — Voted  that  the  major  part  of  the  Committee  that  Repair  to  the 
a  Lottmeut  of  said  Township  and  all  present  at  said  shall  be  a  Quorum 


372  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

to  Determine  The  a  Lottment  &  to  act  in  the  whole  affair  as  submitted 
to  the  Committee  the  fourteenth  of  January  Last. 

5 — Voted  that  James  Williams  be  added  to  the  Committee  and  also 
That  he  be  one  of  the  surveyors  and  that  he  shall  Receive  no  more  for 
his  time  than  fifteen  sliillino;s  per  Day  for  his  time  &  Expense,  and  said 
Williams  Declaimed  his  non  acceptance  of  his  choice  in  said  meeting- 

0 — Voted  that  Decon  .Samuel  Sumner  he  added  to  the  Committee 
&  be  also  imploycd  as  a  Chain  Man  in  the  a  Lottment  of  said  Township 
as  allReady  voted  and  that  he  have  for  his  time  and  Expense  the  sum  of 
twelve  Shillinos  Per  day  and  no  more. 

And  then  the  said  meeting  was  dissolved 

Record  May  26th  1737 

James  Williams  Propr  Clerk. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  township  Number  one  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Connecticutt  River  Legally  meet  at  the  School  house  in 
Taunton  on  Monday  the  Eleventh  Day  of  July  A.  D.  1737  and  then  Came 
into  the  following  votes 

1 — The  said  proprietors  made  choice  of  Mr  Thomas  Clap  Moderator 
for  said  meeting  by  the  major  part  of  the  votes;  each  one  voting  accord- 
ing to  his  interests 

2 — Voted  That  the  Piatt  &  IJeturn  Presented  by  the  Committee  15e 
accepted  and  the  Return  Recorded  in  said  proprietors  Book 

3 — Voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  untill  six  o'Clock  This  af- 
ternoon; and  then  meet  accordingly. 

4 — Voted  that  the  sum  of  Eleven  pounds  Be  Raised  upon  said  pro- 
prietors in  Due  proportion  in  full  Ballance  of  the  account  of  said  Com- 
mittee &  Surveyor  and  that  the  assessors  be  directed  to  make  an  assess- 
ment for  the  same. 

5 — Voted  that  Mr  Thomas  Clap  the  Moderator  Draw  Each  house 
Lott  &  intervail  Lott  for  Each  Respective  Person  that  have  paid  his  pro- 
portion to  former  charges;  or  that  have  satisfied  the  Committee  his  just 
Part  of  said  Cost  &  Charge. 

6 — Voted  that  there  be  a  Committee  Chosen  to  take  into  Considera- 
tion what  method  will  be  most  proper  for  said  proprietors  to  take  in 
building  a  saw  mill  and  a  Gristmill  and  make  report  at  the  adjournment 
of  this  meeting  to  said  proprietors  and  in  the  mean  time  Receive  the 
propo.salls  of  any  Person  or  I'ersons  that  are  willing  to  take  said  mill  or 
mills  to  build,  and  that  the  Committee  shall  Consist  of  the  number  of  five 
men,  and  the  persons  chosen  ware  Mr.  Thomas  Clap  Capt.  Joseph  Tisdale, 
Leiut  John  Harvey,  Leiut  Eliphelett  Leonard  and  Jonathan  Barney,  and 
then  the  said  meeting  was  adjourned  unto  the  first  Monday  of  Sept.  next 
at  one  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon  &  there  to  meet  at  said  School 
house  precisely  at  s'd  hour. 

Recorded  Sept  3d  1737  James  Williams  propr  Clerk. 


APPENDIX.  373 

So])tenibor  ."itli  Ho?  being  the  lirst  Tuesday  of  said  niontli.  The 
meeting  of  the  township  No.  1  adjourned  from  tlie  Eleventh  of  .July  last 
meet  aeeording  to  adjournment  Then  said  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
the  Dwelling  house  of  Capt  .Joseph  Tisdale  and  there  to  meet  at  Three 
O'clock  This  afternoon:  and  then  said  meeting  meet  accordingly. 

The  Proprietors  agreed  and  voted  that  the  following  persons  That 
have  given  Bonds  to  the  Committee  of  the  General  Court  and  are  ad- 
mitted settlers  in  the  Township  number  one  <m  the  west  side  of  Cont 
liiver,  sliall  be  Esteamed  and  accounted  the  Original  Owners  of  so  many 
nights  as  he  hath  Given  Bonds  to  settle,  and  Every  Lott  that  sliall  be 
Drawn  in  the  Division  of  said  Township  sliall  be  drawn  in  the  names  or 
Rights  of  the  said  Original  owners:  and  in  order  to  Distinguish  one  Right 
from  one  another  Every  Right  is  Distinguished  by  Xuniber  and  every 
pro])iietor  shall  have  The  Xumber  or  Numbers  that  are  affixed  to  there 
Respective  names. 

This  is  transcribed  on  tlie  other  side  with  the  names  of  those — 
who  Bought  in  tliere  Lotts  Respectively. 

Voted  that  Mr  Thomas  Chiji  Mr  Saml  Sumner  James  Williams  Esfjr. 
&  Edward  Blake  be  a  Committee  to  Recon  with  the  Treasurer,  C'ollector 
it  Committee  of  this  Propriety,  and  make  Report  to  s'd  proprietors  at 
the  adjournment  of  this  meeting  who  is  indebted  to  tiiem  and  to  whom 
the  same  is  due  licspectively.  And  then  said  meeting  was  adjourned 
untill  Monday  the  "2(5  D.iy  of  Sept  Currant  at  One  O'Clock  in  the  after- 
noon to  meet  at  the  schoole  house  in  said  Taunton  and  Also  Tliat  the 
Clerk  Post  up  a  Notificiition  at  the  Meeting  house,  and  Tliere  in  sett 
forth  that  the  said  proprietors  are  to  Bring  in  There  Lotts  in  Order  the 
same  may  Be  Recoide'l 

ifecurded  Sept  .jth  IToT  by  James  Williams  Clerk 

At  a  meeting  lield  by  adjournment  from  the  Eleventh  of  July  to  the 
tilth  of  September,  and  Continued  by  adjournment  untill  Sept  2(ith  meet 
accordingly:  and  there  the  Proprietors  agreed  and  voted  that  the  follow- 
ing That  Jiave  Given  Bond  to  the  Committee  of  the  General  Court  &  arc 
admitted  settlers  in  the  Township  No.  1  on  the  west  side  of  the  Con- 
nectieutt  River  shall  be  Esteamed  ct  accounted  the  Original]  owners  of 
so  many  Rights  as  he  hath  Given  Bond  to  settle,  And  Every  Lott  that 
shall  be  drawn  in  the  Division  of  said  Township  shall  be  Drawn  in  the 
Names  or  Plights  of  the  said  Original  owners,  and  in  order'to  Distinguish 
one  Right  from  another  Every  Right  is  hereby  Distinguished  by  number: 
one,  two.  three  &c  and  every  proprietor  shall  have  the  number  that  are 
atiHxed  to  there  Res])ective  Names 

Right 
Capt  Joseph  Tisdale      1      Drawed    7  house  Lott  .5:]  Interval!  Lott 
Joseph  Tisdale      2      Drawed  -^2  house  Lott  2:>  Intervail  Lott 
Dito  :5      Drawed  23  house  Lott  22  Intervail  Lott 


174 


OUAKTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


Rijiht. 


10 


Dito 
Ditto 
Ditto 
Ditto 
John  Smith 
Mr  Samuel  Suninei 

Ditto 

Mr  Benjamin  Ruoftles  II 

James  Williams  12 

Ditto  13 

Mr  Thomas  Clap  14 

Ditto  15 

MrEliphclet  Leonard  10 

Ditto  17 

Ditto  IS 

Ditto  111 

Ditto  20 

Seth  Stai)Ies  21 

Ens  Seth  Sumner  22 

Ditto  23 

Capt  James  Leonard  24 

Mr  Moif;an  Cobb  2d  2.j 

Edmond  Andrews  2(i 

Mr  John  Harvey  27 

James  Leonard  o  2y 

Ens  Edward  IJlake  2!) 

Joseph  Willis  oO 

Eliakim  Walker  31 

Josiah  Linkon  32 

Jonathan  Padelford  Jur  3 

Ditto  34 

Ditto  35 

Joseph  Barney  3() 

Joseph  Wilbore  37 

Jonathan  Barney  38 

Ebenezer  Dean  3'.t 

James  Walker  2d  40 

Ebenezer  Smith  41 

Joseph  Eddy  42 

James  Leonard  2d   43 

Joseph  Tisdale  Jur  44 

Ditto  45 

Ditto  4(i 


Drawed  30  house  Lott  21  Litervail  Lott 
Drawed  37  house  Lott  20  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  41  house  Lott  19  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  42  house  Lott  50  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  47  house  Lott  55  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  25  house  Lott  7  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  11  house  Lott  24  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  38  house  Lott  31  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  31  house  Lott  20  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  49  house  Lott  49  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  52  house  Lott  27  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  33  house  Lott  28  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  10  house  Lott  12  Intervail  Lott 
Diawed  3  house  Lott  51  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  53  house  Lott  8  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  8  house  Lott  4  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  27  house  Lott  00  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  13  house  Lott  37  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  59  house  Lott  10  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  12  house  Lott  9  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  40  house  Lott  41  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  39  house  Lott  47  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  51  house  Lott  5  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  54  house  Lott  32  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  10  house  Lott  22  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  58  house  Lott  11  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  19  house  Lott  10  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  18  house  Lott  43  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  35  house  Lott  34  Intervail  Lott 
!  Drawed  50  house  Lott  3  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  45  house  Lott  59  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  29  liouse  Lott  57  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  03  house  Lott  53  Intervail  Lott 
Drawad  30  house  Lott  20  Intervail  Lotl 
Drawed  32  house  Lott  34  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  20  liouse  Lott  15  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  34  house  Lott  35  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  (iO  house  Lott  01  Inteiwail  Lott 
Diawed  01  house  Lott  13  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  4  house  Lott  40  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  1  liouse  Lott  40  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  48  house  Lott  38  Intervail  Lott 
Drawed  49  house  Lott  39  Intervail  Lott 


APPENDIX. 


375 


Joseph  Eddy  4s 

Capt  tiames  Leonard    4U 


50 


Ki.nht. 
James  Walker  2(1  47  Drawed  17  house  I.ott  .Ui  lutervail  Lott 
Drawcd  62  Iiouse  Lott  14  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  44  house  Lott  17  lutervail  Lott 
Drawcd  6  house  Lott  44  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  0  house  Lott  IJO  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  43  house  Lott  48  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  20  house  Lott  IS  lutervail  I^ott 
Drawed  5  house  Lott  58  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  28  house  Lott  0  Interval!  Lott 
Drawed  2  house  Lott  50  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  57  house  Lott  2  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  55  house  Lott  o3  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  21  house  Lott  45  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  50  house  Lott  42  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  24  house  Lott  1  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  15  house  Lott  62  lutervail  Lott 
Drawed  14  house  Lott  Go  lutervail  Lott 


54 


5(5 


Ditto 
Ezra  Deau 
liiut  Morgan  Cobb 
Ebenezer  Deau 
Ephriam  Deau 
William  Waie 
Samuel  Sumuer 
Joseph  Eddy  57 

John  Harvey  58 

Ebenezer  Cobb         5'.) 
Israel  Tisdale  00 

1  Ministers  Ui.nht  (il 

2  Ministers  02 
.School                        0."! 


And  then  it  was  voted  that  the  Clerk  of  said  Proprietors  Record  the 
forejioiuo-  as  it  now  stands  on  this  Book 

Attest  James  Williams  Pro])r  Clerk 

Aiul  then  the  Committee  appointed  the  Eleventh  of  July  last  made  a 
Report  ac(;ordin_<i;  to  Order  Ilelatiuj;' to  That  article  of  Duildin*;-  of  the 
Mills  which  lieport  is  as  followeth  viz 

We  the  Subscribers  bcin<;'  Chosen  a  Committe  to  cousider  of  some 
jJiDjicr  mcathod  for  the  proprietors  of  the  Township  Number  One  on  tlie 
west  side  of  Conuecticutt  River  to  Gett  a  Saw  Mill  &  a  Grist  Mill  built 
in  said  Township  tfe  make  Report  &c 

Accordingly  we  have  taken  the  premises  into  Serious  Consideration 
Do  agTce  to  Report  as  followeth — That  any  person  or  persons  that  are 
williut;-  to  uudertake  the  building  of  said  mills  shall  give  a  valuable  bond 
with  sufficient  security  to  the  treasurer  of  said  proprietors  or  to  his  suc- 
cessors in  said  Office  for  the  use  of  said  proprietors  That  he  or  they  will 
truly  &  faithfully  build  a  Good  Saw  Mill  upon  that  brook  or  stream 
which  the  pioprietors  have  aLotted  out  for  the  use  ct  benefit  of  said 
proprietors  at  or  before  the  first  Day  of  October  anno  Domini  1738  and 
shall  saw  all  sorts  of  Bords  &  slit  work  for  the  proprietors  after  the  Rate 
of  thirty  Shillings  per  thousand.  Each  proprietor  finding  Suitable  timber 
at  the  mill  that  wants  any  sawed  into  bords  or  slitt  work;  and  that  he  or 
they  will  also  build  a  Grist  Mill  upon  said  Stream  within  Six  Months 
after  there  is  twenty  families  Settled  in  said  Township  and  Grind  for 
the  ])roprietors,  taking  no  more  than  two  quarts  out  of  a  bushel;  and  that 
he  oi  they  will  Keep   up   said  Mills  in   good  Order  and   Repair  for  the 


^^jf)  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

space,  of  fifteen  years  next  after  they  are  builded,  for  the  service  of  the 
proprietors  iV:  Other  Inhabitants:  and  if  said  mills  shonld  be  Demolished 
by  the  French  or  Indian  Enemies  within  the  space  of  seven  years  after 
tiicy  are  builded,  the  proprietors  to  pay  thirty  pounds  for  each  mill  that 
shall  be  so  Demolished  to  the  undertakers  &  they  then  at  their  own  Cost 
&  Charge  to  build  said  mills  again  for  said  proprietors  within  one  year 
after  a  peace  is  concluded  with  said  Enemies,  in  case  it  should  so  happen 
that  a  war  with  them  should  Brake  out:  and  for  the  incouragemcnt  of 
those  shall  luidertake  the  building  of  said  mills  the  proprietors  shall 
grant  to  them  there  heirs  &  assigns  forever  the  mill  Lott  &  the  stream 
running  through  it  which  is  all  ready  Laid  Out  and  they  also  to  have 
the  mills  which  they  shall  build,  and  they  building  a  mill  house  upon  it 
of  Eighteen  feet  Scpiare  it  Seven  feet  stud  shall  be  accounted  to  them  as 
a  .Settlers  Lott;  also  bring  too  five  acres  of  Land  to  inglish  Grass,  and 
also  the  undertakers  shall  have  that  peace  of  Land  to  theie  heirs  &,  as- 
signs forever  that  Lyeth  on  the  south  east  side  of  the  highway  that  now 
lies  Common,  viz  that  peace  of  Land  between  the  mill  brook  it  the  lower 
Tear  of  Lotts,  also  Each  proprietor  for  each  right  which  he  holds  shall 
pay  to  the  undertakers  twenty  Shillings,  one  half  by  the  first  Day  of 
March  Domi  1737  and  the  other  half  when  the  Grist  Mill  is  finished. 
September  2Gth  l7o7 

Thos.   <_'lan  by  I  ,,       ... 
Order  of  r       }  C-omittee 

September  2(itli  I7-j7  liead  it  accepted  and  voted  that  said  lleport  be 
Recorded  and  Capt  James  Leonard  Capt  Joseph  Tisdalc  Lieut  Eliphlet 
Leonard  Jonathan  Paddelford  Jun  appeared  in  said  meeting  &  Declared 
that  they  would  undertake  &  perform  the  building  of  said  mills  agree- 
able to  the  Report  above  said:  also  voted  that  said  Capt.  Leonard  Capt. 
Tisdale  Eliphlet  Leonard  &  Jonathan  Paddelford  shall  have  &  hold  the 
Lands  mentioned  in  said  Report  to  them  there  heirs  &  assigns  forever  as 
also  the  sum  of  money  in  the  old  currency  paid  as  above  s'd  upon  giving 
security  as  afforesaid 

Also  voted  that  there  be  a  Comitte  Chosen  to  Lett  out  said  mills  and 
take  bond  of  the  undertakers  agreeable  to  the  Report  afforesaid  and  th;it 
the  Comitte  shall  Grant  to  the  undei'takers  by  deed  of  sale  all  the  Lands 
Reported  in  there  favor  for  building  said  mills,  and  the  Comitte  then 
Chosen  was  Mr  Thomas  Clap  Mr  Samuel  Sumner  it  James  Williams: 
also  voted  that  the  sum  of  thirty  i)oiinds  be  Raised  by  Rate  in  Due  por- 
potion  upon  the  proprietors  of  said  Township  according  to  the  Right  or 
Rights  each  one  enjoys,  for  the  first  payment  for  incouragement  of  build- 
ing the  mills,  and  that  the  assors  make  an  asscsment  for  the  same  in  Due 
proportion  at  or  before  the  firstof  December  next  and  committ  the  same 
to  the  Collector:  and  he  to  account  for  it  at  or  before  the  first  day  of 
february  next  with  Treasurer  of  said  Township and  then  the  meet- 


APPENDIX.  377 

iii<j  was  (HssoIvcmI:   iiiid  tlicn  tlic  imnlcrator  Dcclaictl  ilic  same  was   Dis- 
solved aecoidiiifily 

James  Williams  rropiietois  Clerk 

Kecoidod  November  PJth  1737  by 
James  Williams  I'ropr  Clerk 

A  Return  of  a  survey  Bej>un  on  the  fourth  Day  of  June  17o7  and  fin- 
ished on  the  tenth  of  the  same  month  by  us  the  subscribeis 
the  Committe  Chosen  and  impowered  to  Lay  out  sixty  three  house  Lotts 
and  sixty  three  intervail  Lotts  with  a  mill  Lott  and  a  burein^  place  and 
a  meeting'  house  platt,  accordin<i' to  Divers  votes  passed  at  a  Le<;all  meet- 
inft'  warned  for  that  purpose  by  a  number  of  Inhabitants  in  the  town  of 
Taunton  who  petitioned  The  Great  &  General  Court  of  the  i^rovince  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England  for  a  Township  in  some  of  the 
unapropriated  Lands  in  said  province,  which  petition  was  answered  and 
a  Township  Granted  to  said  petitioners  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticut) 
River  &  joyniuR- thereto  called  tt  Known  by  the  Name  of  No.  L  The 
bounds  of  the  house  Lotts  are  as  followeth.  (here  follows  the  survey  of 
the  Township  witli  the  private  mark  of  each  Grantee  and  also  the  survey 
of  the  training  ground  and  burying  place  and  also  a  meeting  house 
platt. ) 

Said  work  was  done  by  us  the  subscribers  the  proprietors  Committee 
Cho.sen  to  do  said  work.  The  House  Lotts  that  Joyn  on  the  River  viz 
seven  tier  Lotts  There  is  a  highway  or  landing  place  of  four  Rods  in 
width  a  Long  by  the  River  from  the  bank  of  said  River  by  Gates  or  Bans: 
&  a  peace  of  undivided  between  the  mill  brook  &  the  Lower  tear  of 
Lotts 

July  nth  1737  \  John  Harvey  1 

Then  Tliis  Return  (  Joseph  Eddy  | 

Read  allowed  and  accepted       -j  Ebenezer  Dean  J- Committe 

&  voted  that  the  Clerk  Record  j  Jonathan  Paddelford  Jun  | 

the  same  I  Morgan  Cobb  Surveyor        J 

James  Williams  Propr  Clerk        The  foregoing  Return  Recorded 

March  4th  1737  by  James  Williams 
Proprietors  Clerk 

April  3d  1738  In  pursuance  to  a  vote  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Town- 
ship No.  1:  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticutt  River  at  there  meeting 
April!  11th  1737  it  was  voted  and  ordered  that  the  Clerk  of  said  proprie- 
tors yearly  &  annually  should  warn  a  meeting  of  said  proprietors  four- 
teen days  at  Least  before  the  day  of  said  meeting  in  order  to  make 
Choice  of  Officers  Necessary  for  said  propriety;  which  I  have  done 
agreeable  to  said  vote:  and  said  proprietois  are  according  warned  to 
meet  at  the  school  house  in  Taunton  on  Munday  being  the  third  day  of 


^yS  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Aprill  n'.]ii  l)y  a  Notification  posted  up  at  the  meeting  house  in  Taunton 
according  to  order 

James  Williams  proper  Clerk 

said  proi)rietors  being  meet  according  Ly 

1 — Made  Choice  of  Mr  Samuel  Sumner  Moderator  for  s'd  meeting. 

2 — James  Williams  was  Chosen  Cleric  for  the  year  next  ensuing  for 
saitl  propriety. 

3 — Made  Choice  of  Mr  Samuel  Sumner  treasurer  for  the  year  next 
ensueing. 

4 — Made  Choice  of  Mr  Thomas  Clap  Seth  Staples  ct  James  Williams 
to  be  assesors  for  the  year  next  ensueing. 

Made  Choice  of  Ebenezer  Dean  Collector  for  the  year  next  ensueing. 

5 — Then  in  said  meeting  said  dean  Kefused  to  serve  in  said  Trust  & 
then  Joseph  Eddy  was  chosen  collector  in  said  Deans  Room  &  Steed,  for 
the  next  ensuing 

0 — Voted  that  said  proprietors  will  make  choice  of  Three  men  for  a 
Committc  to  i)etition  the  Great  A  General  Court  in  the  name  &  behalf  of 
said  proi)rietors  that  they  may  be  enabled  by  said  Court  by  some  act  or 
Law  to  gather  such  rates  or  assesments  as  have  been  all  Ready  made  & 
remain  unpaid;  as  well  as  those  as  shall  hear  after  be  made  cfe  agreed 
upon  by  said  proprietors  for  the  speady  settelment  of  the  Township  No. 
L  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticut  River;  that  so  said  proprietors  may 
bring  forward  there  settelments  «.t  fullfiU  The  conditions  of  the  bonds 
Given  'I"he  Committc  of  the  Great  &  General  Court — And  then  the  Com- 
itte  Chosen  was  Mr  Thomas  Clap,  Mr  Samuel  Sumner  &  James  Williams 

and  then  the  meeting  was  dissolved  &  the  Moderator  declared  The 
meeting  was  dissolved  accordingly 

James  Williams  propriclnrs  Clerk 

June  12tli  17oy  Then  Mr  Samuel  Sumner  appeared  ct  was  sworn  to 
the  office  of  Treasurer  for  said  i)ro])rietors        before 

James  Williams  Justice  of  the  Peace 

May  L'st-li  17o'.t  At  a  proprietors  meeting  warned  and  held  at  the 
Schoolc!  House  in  Taunton  i)f  the  pro))rietors  of  the  Townshij)  Number 
One,  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticutt  River  To  do  &  act  what  they  shall 
think  i>roper  Touching  tlie  several  articles  following: 

I — To  (Miuse  a  proprietors  (Uerk  Committee  Treasurer  assesors  Col- 
lector A'c 

'1 — Whether  tlu;  iiroi)riett)is  will  by  way  of  Rate  or  otheiwise  mak(< 
some  allowance  or  consideration  to  a  number  of  those  that  will  first 
Bnild  there  Dwelling  houses  on  there  house  Lotts  &  be  Leading  in  the 
fulfilling  of  the  condition  of  their  said  Grant: 


APPENDIX.  379 

3  Whether  the  proprietors  will  agree  to  fcnee  their  Intervale  Lotts 
or  so  many  of  them  as  s'll  proprieters  shall  think  fitt  into  one  or  more 
(ieneral  field,  or  fields  as  also  sueh  Other  Lotts  as  butt  on  said  Kivcr 

1 — The  Moderator  then  Chosen  was  Capt  James  Leonard 

2 — James  Williams  was  Chosen  proprietors  Clerk  for  said  Township 

3'y  Voted  that  Lieut  Morgan  Cobb,  Ens  Edward  Blake,  &  Mr  Joseph 
Eddy  be  a  Committe  to  take  effectual  Care  that  all  &  each  proprietor  or 
(iranteee  of  said  Township  No  1.  that  have  not  paid  there  proportion  to 
former  Rates  &  taxes  Granted  and  agreed  upon,  or  that  shall  this  present 
year  be  Granted  &  agreed  upon  by  said  proprietors  for  Bringing  forward 
the  Settlement  of  said  Township,  by  pursuing  the  Law  of  this  province 
on  Delinquent  i)roprietors  in  such  cases  made  and  provided 

4i> — Treasurer  Chosen  for  this  present  year  is  Mr  James  Walker 
J  an  or 

5th — Collector  Chosen  for  this  present  year  is  Mr  Setli  Staples 

(ji.v — the  assesors  Chosen  for  said  year  173!)  ware  Lieut  John  Harvey 
James  Williams  &  Joseph  Eddy 

Vy — Voted  that  Mesrs  Thomas  Clap  James  Williams  John  Harvey 
Joseph  Eddy  &  Seth  Staples  be  a  Commitee  to  take  into  consideration 
what  sum  or  sums  will  be  proper  for  said  proprietors  to  Raise  by  way  of 
Rate,  or  what  other  encouragements  will  be  pro^jer  for  said  proprietors 
to  make  to  a  certain  number  of  the  first  settlers  as  are  leading  in  the 
settlement  of  there  Grants,  and  said  Committee  to  make  report  of  there 
opinion  to  s'd  proprietors  what  will  be  best  to  do  thereon,  at  the  ad- 
journment of  this  meeting  and  this  article  is  adjourned  to  that  time 

8 — Voted  that  said  Committee  also  Take  into  Consideration  what 
wall  be  best  and  most  convenient  for  said  proprietors  to  do  about  fencing 
their  Intervale  Lotts  into  one  or  more  field  or  fields  and  such  other  Lotts 
as  do  butt  upon  the  River — and  said  Committe  to  make  Report  at  the 
adjournment  of  this  meeting 

and  then  said  meeting  was  adjourned  by  vote  to  3Iunday  the  Eleventh 
Day  of  June  next  tt  there  to  meet  at  twelve  of  the  Clock  in  s'd  Day  at 
said  schoole  house  in  Taunton  and  the  Moderator  Declared  s'd  meetiiwi 
was  adjourned  accordingly 

.lames  Williams  propr  Cler 

The  proprietors  meeting  adjourned  from  the  2Stli  Day  of  May  17-J'.)  to 
the  Eleventh  Day  of  June  17311  then  meet  according  to  adjournment  & 
then  the  said  meeting  was  adjourned  by  vote  from  the  schoole  house  in 
taunton  to  the  Dwelling  house  of   Captn  .Josei)h   Tisdale  &  then  to  meet 

immediately  tt  the  iiro^jrietors  Did  accordingly  meet and  then 

the  Report  of  the  Committee  Chosen  the  28th  of  May  w^as  Read  to  sum 
incouragements  to  a  number  of  jiroprietors  wiu)  should  first  Repair  to  s'd 
town  ship  iV:  build  there  house  etc which  Report  is  as  followctli  viz 


380  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Tlu'  Committee  Chosen  the  2Sth  of  May  ITolt  to  take  into  considora- 
tioii  wliat  sum  or  sums  of  money  will  be  proper  for  s"d  proprietors  to 
Hais  1)y  way  of  Kate;  or  what  other  incouragement  will  be  proper  for  s"(l 
l)roprietors  to  make  to  a  certain  number  of  the  first  settlers:  and  such 
otliers  as  will  be  leading-  in  the  first  setliny  of  there  Grants:  we  have  duly 
considered  thereof,  are  of  opinion  &  do  Report  as  followeth  viz 

I — Tiiat  the  proprietors  of  the  Township  No  1  on  the  west  side  of 
(^onnecticutt  River  Rais  l)y  way  of  Rate  the  sum  of  four  pomids  on  Each 
Right  in  Due  proportion  on  each  right  according  to  the  number  of  Rights 
each  one  holds  &  Claims  in  s'd  propriety,  which  sum  amounts  to  two 
hundred  tt  forty  pounds  and  y'  ye  assessors  for  this  present  year  make 
a  rate  for  ye  same  &  s'd  Collector  Collect  ct  pay  in  the  same  to  the  treas- 
urer of  s'd  propriety  at  or  before  the  first  day  of  Aprill  1740 — also  that 
s'd  proprietors  at  ye  adjournment  of  there  metting  in  ye  Eleventh  of 
.hnie  Currant  make  choice  of  a  Committe  to  draw  out  the  sum  of  one 
liundred  ct  twenty  pounds  on  the  fifteenth  Day  of  June  1740  &  pay  to 
sui-h  a  number  of  s'd  proprietors  who  shall  this  present  year  Repair  to 
s'd  Township  tV:  there  on  his  Respective  house  Lott  build  a  Dwelling 
lujuse  according  to  Court  act:  and  by  the  fifteenth  Day  of  June  1740  fence 
in  it  brake  up  for  plowing  or  Clear  ct  stock  with  Inglish  Grass  five  acres 
of  Land:  That  the  number  of  said  prt)prietors  that  shall  so  do  or  cause  to 
be  done  on  his  or  there  house  Lott  or  Lotts  in  s'd  Township  &:  make  the 
same  appear:  so  s"d  Committee  shall  by  order  from  said  Committee  to 
said  treasurer  Draw  out  the  sum  of  one  hundred  &  twenty  pounds,  Each 
one  to  Draw  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  houses  he  shall  build  on  his 
house  Lotts  (no  person  to  build  more  than  one  house  on  one  Lott,  &  Each 
Right  to  clear  five  acres  as  afforesaid  for  Each  house  he  shall  so  Build  in 
said  Township 

2ly — That  the  Renuiiner  half  part  being  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds  shall  be  paid  to  those  that  shall  actually  Inhabit  their  homes  so 
built  Eitiier  by  themselves  or  some  other  Christian  subject  of  our  Lord 
Mic  King  for  the  space  of  three  month  between  the  said  fifteenth  of 
June  1740  A'  the  fifteenth  of  November  next  after,  &  make  the  same  ai>- 
l)eai'  to  s'd  Committe,  shall  Each  one  Draw  his  proportion  according  to 
I  lie  number  of  liouse  he  shall  so  Cause  to  l)e  Inhabited  at  the  end  of  said 
three  montiis,  &  said  treasurer  is  Directed  upon  Receiving  an  order  from 
said  Committee  in-  the  major  part  of  them  to  pay  out  the  same  according 
to  Eacli  ones  Respective  Due:  all  which  is  huml)ly  submitted  by 

In  s;ii(l  nuicting  said  Re])ort  was  i  TIIOALVS  CLAP  > 

Read  and  a  Considerable  Debate  iiad  '  .lOSKl'H    KDDV  [  Committee, 

thereon:  and  then  the  said   propric-  f  JAMES  WILLIAMS   \ 
tors  by  a  great  majority  Came   into 
the  following  vote  thereon 


AlM'ENniX.  381 

Voted  that  tlie  rei)<)rt  (tf  the  Comniitte  Chosen  the  i^Sth  of  May  Last 
past  be  accepted  tt  that  the  sum  of  Sixty  pounds  be  aded  to  the'  said  two 
liundred  and  forty  pounds  to  be  paid  in  Etpiallialfs,  aj^reeable  to  tiie  first 

iV:  second  articles  in  said  Report all  whicli  was  voted  in  tlie  alitlrnia- 

tive — And  tlu'  said  pioprietors  proceed  to  make  Choice  of  the  Committe 
above  said:  And  the  Committe  then  Chosen  was  Lint.  Eliphelet  Leonard 
Lint  Morgan  Cobb  Mr  Joseph  Eddy  Liut  John  Harvey  &  Ebenezer  Dean 

and  then  the  Committe  Chosen  to  make  report  what  s'd  proprietors 
should  do  as  to  fencing  there  Intervale  &  house  Lotts  next  the  liiver  into 
one  or  more  field  or  fields  Reported  as  followeth :  We  the  subscribers  a  Com- 
mitte Chosen  l)y  the  proprietors  f)f  the  township  number  one  on  the  west 
side  of  Connecticutt  River  Consider  what  is  proper  tor  said  proprietors 
to  do  about  fencing  the  lower  tier  of  Lotts  &,  the  Intervale  Ijotts,  Do  re- 
])ort  that  the  said  Lotts  be  fenced  into  a  General  field  by  those  that  shall 
(io  up  there  before  the  first  day  of  July  1740  ct  every  proprietor  that  have 
his  Lott  or  Lotts  fenced  in  shall  i)ay  to  those  yt  Do  it  nine  pence  a  Rod 
which  is  submitted  by  us 

Taunton  June  sth  173'.i 

THOMAS  CLAP   / 
JOSEPH  EDDY   }  Committe 
JOHN  HARVEY  ) 

This  Report  Read  <fe  accepted  and  was  voted  in  the  affirmative  James 
Williams  propr  Clerk  And  then  the  meeting  was  by  vote  Dismised  and 
the  Moderator  Declared  the  meeting  was  Dismised  accordingly  at  this 
adjournment  42  Rights  present  which  acted  in  s'd  meeting 

James  Williams  propr  Clerk 

At  a  Legall  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Township  number  one 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut  River  warned  according  to  proprie- 
tors Order  &  held  at  the  schoole  house  in  Taunton  on  Munday  the  Tth 
day  of  Aprill  1740  being  the  first  Munday  in  s'd  nu)nth :  and  after  s'd  pro- 
prietors being  meet  Legally 

1 — They  made  Choice  of  Capt  James  Leonard  Moderator  ft>r  said 
meeting 

2 — Made  Choice  of  James  Williams  Esqr  Proprietors  Clerk 

:> — Made  Choice  of  Liut  John  Harvey  Treasurer  for  sd.  Proprietors 
for  the  next  year  ensuing 

4 — The  proprietors  made  Choice  of  Ens  Setli  Sumner  Ebenezer  Dean 
i&  Seth  Tisdale  assessors  for  this  present  year 

5 — Made  Choice  of  Mr  Joseph  Eddy  Collector  for  this  present  year 
and  then  said  proprietors  by  vote  Dismised  said  meeting  and  the  Moder- 
ator Declared  yf  said  meeting  was  Dismised  accordingly 

James  Williams  proprietors  Clerk 

Bristol  Sc  At  a  proprietors  meeting  Legally  warned  and  held  at  the 
school   house   in   Taunton  on   the   Seventh  Day  of   Aprill   1740:    which 


382  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

said  meetino;  was  warned  by  tlu-  iJi-oprietors  Clerk  upon  application  to 
him  made  by  live  proprietors:  and  then  the  proprietors  Came  into  the 
tollowinfi;  votes 

1 — Said  Proprietors  made  Chf)iee  of  Lint  Morgan  Cobb  Moderator  of 
said  meeting 

And  then  tlie  said  proprietors  by  vote  adjourned  said  meeting  to  the 
Dwelling  house  of  Ruth  Tisdale  and  then  meet  forthwith  according  to 
adjournment 

■2 — Voted  that  ('apt  James  Leonard  be  an  agent  in  the  name  &  be- 
half of  said  proprietors  to  petition  the  Great  and  General  Court  (if  need 
be)  to  Grant  a  further  time  to  said  proprietors  to  fulfill  the  Conditions  of 
the  Grant  of  said  Court  for  settling  the  same  according  to  Court  act:  the 
time  being  now  elapsed 

;! — That  article  mentioned  in  the  application  Relating  to  putting  in 
suit  those  bonds  Given  by  some  proprietors  for  building  a  Saw  Mill  was 
dismised  by  vote 

4 — Voted  that  James  Williams  Esqr  be  an  agent  in  the  name  ct  be- 
lialf  of  said  proprietors  to  petition  the  General  Court  Committe  to  Con- 
tirm  the  votes  of  said  proprietors  at  there  meeting  held  at  Taunton  on 
the  2Sth  Day  of  May  IToU  and  then  said  meeting  was  by  vote  Dismised 
and  the  Moderator  Declared  said  meeting  was  Dismised  accordingly 

James  Williams  proprietors  Clerk 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  Legally  warned  and  held  at  the  Schoole 
house  in  taunton  on  the  Eight  Day  of  July  1740  to  act  and  vote  on  the 
several  articles  set  forth  in  the  application  for  calling  said  meeting 

The  Moderator  Chosen  for  said  meeting  was  Ensign  Seth  Sumner 

1 — Voted  that  Messurs  Joseph  Eddy  James  Leonard  Junior  &  Seth 
Tisdale  be  a  committee  to  take  into  Consideration  what  way  in  (the) 
Township  number  one  will  be  proper  and  beneficial  for  said  proprietors 
to  clear  out,  by  way  of  Rate,  for  there  conveniancy  to  pass  and  Repass  to 
&  from  yt  Saw  Mill  in  said  Township  and  yt  said  Committe  Report  to  said 
proprietors  what  is  Proper  to  vote  tliereon  and  to  Report  as  soon  as  may 
be.  Passed  in  the  affirmative  And  then  said  proprietors  by  vote  ad- 
journed said  meeting  to  y'  Dwelling  House  of  the  widow  Ruth  Tisdale 
and  to  meet  at  Plight  0'Clo(;k  this  present  day:  and  then  meet  according 
to  adjournment  and  then  said  Committe  made  report  to  said  proprietors 
there  place  which  is  as  followeth 

July  the  sth  174(1:  we  the  subscribers  who  was  chosen  a  committe  by 
the  proprietors  in  tlie  Township  No  1:  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticutt 
River  to  Report  to  said  proi)rietors  wiiat  way  in  said  Township  proper 
and  necessary  to  be  cleared  to  i)ass  and  Repass  to  &  from  the  saw  mill  in 
said  Township:  are  of  opinion  yt  the  ten  Rod  highway  Be  cleared  and 
made  passable  from  tlie  four  Rod  highway  that  is  between  the  forty 
second  anil  forth  eighth   L(»tts  south  ward  to  yt  Saw  Mill,  and  so  over  as 


APPENDIX.  383 

far  as  can  be  (lone  wit li  tliiitv  iiinuids.  and  that  a  rate  be  made  on  s'd 
pro])rietors  of  tliirty  pounds  and  Delivered  to  a  C'ommitte  appointed 
for  yt  purpose  to  receive  it  and  see  it  laid  out  acccn-din.uly:  July  SlJi 
IT-JO 

JOSEPH  EDDY  / 

JAMES  LEOXART)  :;d     Coniniitte 

SETH  TISDALE  S 

and  after  the  foreo;oin<i'  Rejiort  was  Read  ayain  voted   that  the  same 

be  accepted 

James  Williams  proprietors  Clerk 

The  Second  article  mentioned  in  said  application  being  Read  Relating 
to  meeting  some  f'onsidei-ation  to  the  first  settler  at  y*  South  East  f'orner 
of  s"d  Townshi]}  or  otherwise  was  by  vote  dismised 

The  voted  that  this  meeting  l)e  adjourned  vmto  the  first  Munday  t)f 
September  next  being  the  first  Day  of  s"d  moiinth  at  one  of  the  flock  in 
the  afternoon  and  then  to  meet  at  the  Schole  house  in  s'd  Taunton:  and 
the  ]N[oderat(n'  Declared  said  meeting  was  adjourned  accordingly 

James  Williams  propr  T'lerk 

Sept  1st  1740  Then  the  proprietors  of  the  Townshij^  Number  one  on 
the  west  side  oi  the  Connecticutt  River  meet  according  to  adjournment: 
and  after  a  considerable  Debate  had  on  the  foregoing  meeting 

Voted  that  it  is  thought  proper  that  a  greater  majority  of  proprie- 
tors be  present  to  act  in  the  affair  of  said  meeting  Therefore  voted  that 
this  meeting  be  arljourned  unto  Munday  the  twenty-second  Day  of  Sep- 
tember Currant  at  one  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon:  and  then  to  meet  at 
the  schoole  house  in  said  Taunton 

Passed  in  the  afifirmative 

And  the  Moderator  Declared  that  said  meeting  was  adjourneil  ac- 
cordingly 

James  Williams  Proprietors  Clerk 

Sept.  22d  1740  The  Proprietors  of  the  Township  number  one  on  the 
west  side  of  Connecticutt  River  meet  according  to  adjournment  and  there 
Came  into  the  following  vote:  Viz  Voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned 
unto  the  third  Munday  of  November  next  being  the  17th  Day  of  s"d 
monntli  and  then  to  meet  at  s'd  schoole  house  in  Taunton  at  one  of  the 
Clock  in  the  afternoon  and  the  Moderator  Declared  said  meeting  was  ad- 
journed accordingly 

James  Williams  propr  Clerk 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  and  Continued  by  several  adjourn- 
ments from  the  Sth  of  July  1740  unto  IMunday  the  17th  of  Noveml)er  1740 
and  there  meet  at  the  schoole  house  afforesaid  and  then  adjourned  to  tlie 
Dwelling  house  of  Mrs.  Ruth  Tisdale  in  said  taunton  at  four  of  ye  Clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  s"d  Day  and  there  meet  accordingly 


384  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

And  then  voted  that  Mr  Setli  Suinner  Liut  Eliplielet  Leonard  and 
Mr.  Jonathan  Barney  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  con.sideration  and  con- 
sider what  Service  have  been  Done  by  several  Persons  who  have  Done 
Service  on  tlie  Respective  house  Lotts:  and  how  far  Each  of  them  have 
been  servisable  to  the  propriety  and  make  Report  to  tlie  adjournment  of 
tliis  meetinfi'  what  allowances  Each  one  that  has  Labored  on  .s'd  Town- 
ship ought  to  have.  i)rovided  they  forego  there  former  vote  of  i':]0()fi>r 
Incouragement  of  the  first  setlers,  and  also  to  Report  what  allowance 
shall  be  made  to  our  present  Clerk  for  his  service  as  i)roprietors  Clerk 
ever  since  we  have  been  a  propriety;  voted  in  the  affirmative  and  then  the 
meeting  was  adjourned  by  vote  to  tuesday  ye  Second  Day  of  December 
next  and  then  to  meet  at  s'  d  Schoole  house  at  one  of  ye  clock  in  ye  after- 
noon and  the  ^foderatin-  Declared  it  was  adjourned  accordinglj* 

James  Williams  proprietors  Clerk 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  at  the  Schoole  house  in  Taunton  on 
Tuesday  the  second  Day  of  December  1740  being  continued  by  adjourn- 
ments from  the  Eight  day  of  July  Last  past  unto  this  Day  and  then  meet 
according  to  adjournment  and  then  the  Report  of  the  Committee  Chosen 
the  nth  Day  of  Xovember  I^ast  past  made  Report  according  to  Order  as 
foUoweth  viz 

We  the  subscribers  being  a  Committe  Chosen  by  the  proprietors  of 
Township  number  one  &  on  the  17th  Day  of  November  Last  to  Take  into 
Consideration  and  Consider  what  service  have  been  Done  by  several  Per- 
sons who  have  done  service  on  the  Respective  house  Lotts  and  how  far 
Each  of  them  have  been  servisable  to  the  proprietors  and  make  Report 
to  the  adjournment  of  said  meeting  what  allowance  each  one  that  has 
Labored  on  said  Township  ought  to  have  provided  they  forego  the  vote 
(jf  £800  for  Incouragement  of  the  first  setlers:  as  also  what  allowance 
shall  be  made  our  present  Clerk  for  his  service  as  proprietors  Clerk  ever 
since  he  has  served  in  said  office 

1 — We  have  duly  considered  and  find  a  vote  of  May  29th  1739  that 
said  proprietors  did  Chuse  a  Committe  who  Reported  to  said  proprietors 
that  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  forty  pounds  should  be  Raised  by  way 
of  Rate  on  them  to  Incourage  a  sertain  number  of  proprietors  that 
should  1)6  first  setlers  and  leading  the  settlement  of  there  Grants  in  said 
Township  and  that  such  number  of  proprietors  as  should  in  the  same 
year  1709  Repair  to  his  Respective  house  Lott  and  build  a  Dwelling  house 
according  to  Court  act  and  by  the  fifteenth  of  June  1740  fence  in  and 
brake  u))  for  plowing  or  clear  and  stock  with  Inglish  (4rass  five  acres  of 
Ijand;  that  such  mend)er  as  should  so  do  and  make  the  same  appear  to  a 
conuuitte  should  Draw  out  £120  of  the  afforesaid  £240 

2'y — And  the  Other  half  of  the  two  hundred  and  forty  pounds  being 
£120  should  be  paid  to  those  that  should  actually  Inhabit   there  houses 


APPENDIX.  385 

SO  built  themselves  or  some  other  subjects  of  Our  Lord  the  King  for  the 
space  of  three  months  between  the  15th  of  June  1740  and  the  15th  of  Xo- 
vember  the  same  year  &c-. 

2'y — it  appears  to  your  Committe  that  altho  there  was  a  Rate  for  said 
sum  of  three  hiuidred  pounds  yet  no  part  thereof  is  Collected  by  Reason 
there  was  no  Collector  sworn  for  said  year  1739  Therefore  your  Com- 
mitte Rei)ort  as  followeth 

1 — It  Doth  not  appear  to  us  that  any  person  or  persons  has  fulfilled 
or  Complied  with  the  afforesaid  vote  so  as  to  be  Intitled  to  any  part  of 
said  three  bundled  pounds 

2h' — Are  of  the  Opinion  that  the  said  sum  be  not  Collected  nor  paid 
into  the  treasury  of  said  Township 

3 — Are  of  the  opinion  that  those  persons  that  have  actually  been  up 
and  Labored  in  said  Township  should  have  an  honourable  allowance 
made  to  each  of  them  according  to  there  Respective  service  as  followeth 

To  Mr  Richard  Ellis  who  in  a  Great  measure  so  to  us  appears  built  a 
Dwelling  house  and  broke  up  five  or  six  acres  of  Land  be  paid  and  al- 
lowed by  said  proprietors  for  both  years  service  1739  and  1740  the  sum 
of  f45=0=0    Voted. 

To  be  paid  Leuit  John  Harvey  for  himself  and  hand  in  ye  year  1739 
£10=0=0    voted. 

To  be  paid  James  Washburn  for  his  service  and  part  of  the  team 
£10=0=0    voted. 

To  be  paid  Mr  Joseph  Eddy  for  himself  and  one  hand  and  one  third 
part  of  the  team  £15=0=0    voted. 

To  be  paid  Seth  Tisdale  for  his  Labor  1739  £5=0=0    Voted 

Jonathan  Harvey  ye  2d  to  be  paid  £5=0=0    Voted 


£90=0=0 
To  be  paid  Jonathan  Thayer  for  his  service  in  the  year  1740  on  said 
Township   £10=0=0 

This  article  of  Jonathan  Thayers  was  Read  and  passed  in  the  nega- 
tive: and  upon  said  proprietors  voting  the  several  sums  to  the  several 
Persons  above  named  they  to  Declare  under  there  Hands  that  Each  of 
them  Do  freely  and  fully  Discharge  the  proprietors  vote  of  £300  and 
that  our  Clerk  Record  the  said  Discharge  on  our  proprietors  Records 
And  that  our  present  assesors  be  Directed  to  make  a  Rate  and  assess- 
ment on  said  proprietors  in  Due  proportion  for  collecting  the  same  and 
the  Collector  to  Gather  in  the  same  and  pay  it  to  our  Treasurer  and  he 
to  pay  out  the  same  by  the  twentieth  Day  January  next  to  the  Respec- 
tive persons  to  whome  it  is  voted  in  bills  of  Either  of  the  Governments 
of  New  England 

Also  we  further  Report  that  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  be  Raised  and 
added  to  said  Rate  for  payment  of  James  Williams   Esqr   Our    present 


386  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Clerk  for  his  service  as  proprietors  Clerk  ever  since  we  have  been  a  pro- 
priety and  in  full  Discharge  of  all  the  service  he  has  Done  the  proprie- 
tors in  the  propriety  and  y*  the  same  be  aded  to  said  Rate  and  the  treas- 
urer Directed  to  make  payment  to  him  said  Williams  by  the  said  20th  of 
January  next — all  of  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

December  2d  1740 

SETH  SUMNER  / 

ELIPHELET  LEONARD      Committee 
JONATHAN  BARNEY       ) 

December  2d  1740 — The  foregoing  Report  being  Read  and  Consid- 
ered voted  that  the  same  be  accepted  and  that  the  Clerk  Record  the 
same 

Recorded  Dec.  3d  1740  by         James  Williams  Proprietors  Clerk 
James  Williams  propr  Clerk 

And  whereas  at  this  meeting  on  the  8th  of  July  1740  it  was  in  a  Com- 
mittees Report  then  Chosen  that  thirty  pounds  be  Raised  for  clearing  a 
highway  from  the  saw  mill  to  the  four  Rods  highway  between  the  47 
and  forty  Eight  house  Lotts  in  said  Township;  now  it  is  voted  that  Mr 
James  Walker  Jur,  Liut.  John  Harvey  and  Mr  Seth  Staples  be  Chosen 
and  they  to  Do  and  perform  as  by  said  Report  on  Record  is  Directed, 
which  was  voted  in  the  affirmative  and  then  the  meeting  by  vote  was 
Dismised  and  the  Modei-ator  Declared  the  same  was  Dismised   accordly, 

James  Williams  proprietors  Clerk. 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  warned  and  held  at  the  schoole  house  in 
Taunton  on  Tuesday  the  Second  Day  of  December  1740:  the  Moderator 
then  Chosen  was  Ens  Seth  Sumner  And  then  the  proprietors  adjourned 
said  meeting  to  the  Dwelling  house  of  Ruth  Tisdale  widow;  and  there 
forthwith  meet  according  to  adjournment,  and  came  into  the  follow- 
ing vote  viz 

Voted  that  Liut  Morgan  Cobb  ye  2d,  James  Williams  Esqr  Liut  John 
Harvey,  Decon  Samuel  Sumner  and  Liut  Eliphelet  Leonard  be  a  Com- 
mitte  in  the  Behalf  of  the  proprietors  to  make  the  Best  Inquiry  they 
can  and  Inform  themselves  so  as  to  be  abill  to  Lay  before  the  proprie- 
tors at  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting  how  the  Circumstances  of  the 
said  Township  are  as  to  settlement  of  Hampshire  Line  and  what  the 
General  Courts  Committes  opinion  is  thereon  to  which  we  have  Given 
bonds  for  the  performance  of  the  Conditions  therein  Enjoyed:  said  Com- 
mittee to  be  at  no  Charge  to  the  propriety  Voted  in  the  affirmative 
and  then  the  proprietors  by  vote  adjourned  said  meeting  unto  the  first 
Tuesday  of  January  next  at  one  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon  and  then 
to  meet  at  the  schoole  house  in  said  Taunton :  and  then  the  Moderator 
Declared  said  meeting  was  adjourned  accordingly     by 

James  Williams  propr  Clerk 


APPENDIX.  387 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  at  the  Schoole  House  in  Taunton  on 
Tuesday  the  6th  Day  of  January  1740  being  Continued  by  adjournment 
from  the  second  Day  of  December  Last  and  now  meet  according  to  ad- 
journment and  then  the  proprietors  by  vote  adjourned  said  meeting  unto 
the  first  Munday  of  Aprill  next  and  said  moderator  Declared  that  said 
meeting  was  adjourned  accordingly 

James  Williams  propr  Clerk 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  at  the  schoole  house  in  taunton  on 
Munday  the  Oth  Day  of  Aprill  1741:  being  the  first  Munday  in  sd  month: 
for  Choice  of  Clerk  treasurer  assesors  and  all  Other  officers  necessary  for 
the  proprietors  of  the  said  township  or  propriety  and  being  meet  Came 
into  the  following  Choice  of  Officers 

1 — Mr  Seth  Sumner  Chosen  Moderator  for  said  meeting 

2 — James  Williams  Esqr  Chosen  Clerk  for  said  propriety  for  ye  year 
1741 

3 — the  Collector  Chosen  was  Mr  Seth  Staples  bvit  he  Refused  in  sd 
meeting  to  serve  and  then  the  proprietors  made  choice  of  Mr  Joseph 
Eddy    • 

4 — assesors  Chosen  for  sd  year  1741  was  Mr  Seth  Sumner  Ebenezer 
Dean  and  Seth  Tisdale  the  Treasuer  chbsen  for  said  year  1741  was  Lieut 
John  Harvey  and  then  the  proiDrietors  by  vote  Dismised  said  meeting  & 
moderator  Declared  said  meeting  was  dismised  according. 

James  Williams  Pi'opr  Clerk 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  at  the  Schoole  house  in  Taunton  on 
Munday  the  6th  Day  of  Aprill  1741  being  continued  by  sevei'al  adjourn- 
ments from  the  2d  Day  December  1740  and  meet  according  to  adjourn- 
ment. Voted  that  this  meeting  be  further  adjourned  unto  the  second 
Munday  of  May  next;  and  then  to  meet  at  the  Schoole  house  in  taunton 
at  one  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon  of  sd  Day  and  the  Moderator  De- 
clared ye  meeting  was  adjourned  accordingly 

James  Williams  Propr  Clerk 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  at  the  Schoole  house  in  taunton  on 
Munday  the  Eleventh  Day  of  May  1741  being  Continued  by  several  ad- 
journments from  the  Second  Day  of  December  Last  past  and  meet  ac- 
cording to  adjournment  and  came  into  the  following  vote 

1 — Voted  that  there  be  a  division  of  fifty  acres  of  Land  to  each  Pro- 
prietor also  three  fifty  acre  Lotts:  one  for  the  Minister:  One  for  the  Min- 
istry; and  one  for  the  Schoole  and  Each  Lott  to  be  Laid  in  proportions 
for  Quantity  and  Quality  and  to  be  surveyed  and  Laid  out  agreeable  to  the 
Direction  said  proprietors  shall  Give  to  there  Committe  yt  shall  be  ap- 
pointed to  Lay  out  the  same— It  is  also  voted  that  Richard  Ellis  one  of 
ye  proprietors  of  said  Township  shall  have  full  Liberty  to  Lay  out  one 


388  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

fifty  acre  Lott  at  the  South  East  Corner  of  said  Township:  he  being  at 
the  cost  of  the  survey  of  said  Lott;  and  he  to  Lay  the  same  in  one  square 
body;  and  said  fifty  acres  to  be  Deducted  out  of  his  Right  for  one  of  his 
Lotts  on  s'd  Division  and  said  Ellis  to  present  a  Return  of  s'd  fifty  acres 
to  said  Proprietors  Laid  out  by  a  surveyor  and  Chain  men  by  the  first 
Munday  of  Aprill  next.  Provided  he  actually  Repair  to  said  Township 
and  settle  on  the  same  this  present  year  and  build  a  Dwelling  house  on 
the  same  Lott:  but  if  he  fail  of  so  doing  then  to  be  as  one  of  the  Other 
Lotts  to  be  Drawn  for  ye  said  proprietors;  also  provided  he  Do  not  lay 
any  part  of  said  fifty  acres  within  thirty  Rods  of  the  Line  of  ye  Equive- 
lent  Land  adjoining  to  said  Township.      voted  in  the  affirmative 

And  then  said  Proprietors  adjourned  said  meeting  by  votes  unto  the 
Last  Munday  of  July  next  and  there  to  meet  at  said  schoole  house  at 
one  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  Moderator  Declared  said  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  accordingly 

James  Williams  Propr  Cler 

To  James  Williams  Esqr  Clerk  of  the  Township  No  1  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Connecticutt  River  these  are  to  Desire  you  to  warn  a  propri- 
etors meeting  on  fryday  the  25th  of  September  Instant  at  one  of  the 
clock  in  the  afternoon:  in  the  schoole  House  in  Taunton  for  the  ends 
and  purposes  here  after  mentioned  viz 

first  to  Chose  a  Moderator 

2 — To  Choose  three  or  five  or  more  men  to  lay  out  the  fifty  acre  Divi- 
sion all  Ready  agreed  upon  " 

3d— To  agree  upon  a  division  of  the  Intervail  Land  and  how  many 
acres  shall  be  to  a  Right 

4 — To  Impower  the  above  said  Committe  to  Lay  out  the  Intervale 
Land  if  the  said  proprietors  Think  fitt  to  to  have  a  Division  of  it. 

5 — To  agree  and  vote  how  much  they  shall  have  a  day  for  Laying 
out  the  above  said  Land 

6 — To  vote  how  much  the  said  proprietors  will  Give  to  the  first  set- 
ler  or  setlers 

7 — To  vote  to  Imi)ower  those  men  that  ware  formerly  Impowered  to 
sell  the  Rights  in  the  affore  said  Township  of  those  men  that  neglect  or 
Refuse  to  pay  there  part  of  the  Charge  that  have  all  Ready  Risen  or 
shall  Rise 

8 — To  see  whither  the  proprietors  of  s'd  Township  will  Impower  the 
above  said  Committe  to  Imploy  any  persons  to  Clear  a  path  From  fort 
Dummer  to  the  Township  number  one  and  in  so  Doing  you  will  oblige 
yours  to  serve 
Taunton  .September  the  8th  1741 

Sept  9th  1741  Notification  \  James  Leonard 

posted  up  to  warn  the  affore  said  Joseph  Eddy 

meeting  at  Taunton  meeting  house  -j  John  Harvey 

according  to  Law  by  me  I  Jonathan  Thayer 

James  Williams  propr  Cler  [  Jonathan  Harvey 


APPENDIX.  389 

Bristol  Sc  At  a  proprietors  meeting  warned  and  held  at  the  Schoole 
Mouse  in  Taunton  on  fryday  the  25th  day  of  September  1741  for  the 
Ends  and  vies  set  fort  in  the  warrant  Calling  said  meeting  as  on  Record 

Lieut.  John  Harvey  was  Chosen  Moderator  for  said  meeting  and 
then  voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  unto  the  first  fryday  of  Octo- 
ber next  being  the  Second  day  of  said  month  at  two  of  the  Clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  the  Moderator  Declared  said  meeting  was  adjourned  ac- 
cordingly 

James  Williams  propr  Clerk 

October  2'i  1741  the  proprietor.s  meeting  held  at  the  Schoole  house  in 
taunton  the  25th  of  September  Last  being  Continued  by  adjournment  to 
this  Day  meet  according  to  adjournment  voted  that  Lieut  John  Harvey, 
Mr  Joseph  Eddy,  James  Williams,  James  Leonard  the  3d  and  Seth  Tis- 
dale  or  the  major  part  of  them  be  a  Committe  to  take  a  survey  of  all  the 
Intervale  Land  in  said  Township  that  adjoynes  the  Connecticutt  River 
that  is  not  all  Ready  alotted  and  Drawn  for  in  the  foimer  survey;  and  to 
Lay  the  same  into  sixty  three  Lotts  and  proportion  the  same  for  Quality 
and  Quanity  that  each  Lott  may  be  of  Equal  value,  and  to  make  Return  of 
the  survey  and  alottment  to  said  proprietors  in  a  meeting  for  that  pur- 

])ose  with  a  jjlan  of  the  said  survey Voted  in  the  affirmative, 

and  then  voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  at  the  time  and  place 
when  the  next  Legall  meeting  shall  be  held  by  said  proprietors:  and 
then  to  meet:  and  the  Clerk  is  Directed  to  Give  notice  seasonably  that 
said  meeting  is  adjourned  by  posting  up  the  same  at  the  publick  meet- 
ing house  in  said  Taunton:  and  then  the  Moderator  Declared  said  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  accordingly 

James  Williams  propr  Cler 

At  a  proprietors  meeting  held  at  the  Schoole  House  in  Taunton  the 
fifth  Day  of  Aprill  1742,  being  continued  by  several  adjournments  from 
the  25th  Day  of  September  A.  D.  1741  met  according  to  adjournment 
and  then  adjourned  said  meeting  to  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and 
then  met  accordingly  and  then  the  proprietors  adjourned  said  meeting 
by  vote  to  the  first  Munday  of  August  next  at  one  of  the  Clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  the  moderator  Declared  said  meeting  was  adjourned 
accordingly. 

James  Williams,  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Bristol  Sc  at  a  proprietors  meeting  legally  warned  and  held  at  the 
Schoole  house  in  Taunton  on  Munday  the  fifth  Day  of  Aprill  A.  D.  1742 
being  the  first  Munday  of  said  mounth:  and  anuall  meeting  for  said  pro- 
prietors according  to  there  vote  Being  meet  according  to  warning. 

1  Capt.  James  Leonard  was  chosen  moderator  for  .said  meeting. 

2  James  Williams  was  Chosen  Clerk  for  the  ensuing  year  1742. 


390  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

3  Voted  that  Mr.  Joseph  Eddy  be  an  agent  and  wait  on  the  Honl 
Committe  to  whom  the  proprietors  of  our  Township  Gave  Bonds  for 
performance  of  settlement  of  said  Township  according  to  Court  act, 
and  said  agent  is  fully  Impowered  and  Desired  to  acquaint  said  Com- 
mitte of  the  Difficulty  said  proprietors  Labour  under;  and  has  ex- 
pended Considerable  money  and  Labour  on  said  Township  and  in  Con- 
siderable preparation  to  fulfill  the  Court  act  on  us  enjoyned:  yett  not 
with  standing  said  Township  of  Land  (as  sd  proprietors  are  Informed) 
is  now  fallen  into  the  Government  of  New  Hampshire:  which  is  much 
Discouraging  to  said  proprietors  Settlement  and  Going  forward  to  fully 
Compleat  there  worke  on  said  Township  said  proprietors  humbly  De- 
sires the  Honl  Committe  to  Inform  said  proprietors  and  give  them  Di- 
rection what  proper  meathod  to  take  in  order  to  have  there  Rights  se- 
cured to  sd  proprietors  according  to  Court  act:— said  ageiit  to  make 
report  to  said  proprietors  at  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting:  and  shall 
have  five  shillings  for  his  trouble  and  Expence  in  said  affair. 

Voted  in  the  affirmative  and  then  the  proprietors  by  vote  adjourned 
said  meeting  unto  the  second  Munday  of  June  next  at  one  of  the  Clock 
in  the  afternoon :  and  the  Moderator  Declared  said  meeting  was  ad- 
journed accordingly. 

James  Williams,  Proprietors  Clerk. 

The  Record  of  this  last  meeting  closes  the  Records  under  the 
head  of  Township  No.  i  on  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticutt  River 
The  call  for  the  next  meeting  is  from  the  Proprietors  of  the  Town 
ship  of  VVestminster  in  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  and  was 
dated  July  26,  A.  D.  1753  and  in  the  Record  Book  immediately 
follows  the  record  above  given,  and  therefore  leaves  a  missing 
link  between  the  two  setts  of  Proprietors,  which  was  probably 
lost,  as  nothing  appears  between  April  5,  1742,  and  July  26,  1753. 


APPENDIX  CC. 

IPage  55.1 

The  act  establishing  Taunton  as  the  Shire  town  of  Bristol 
County  passed  at  the  session  begun  and  held  at  Boston,  on  the 
sixth  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1746,  Ch.  15,  in  these  words: 


APPENDIX.  391 

"An  act  for  niakino-  the  town  of  Taunton  the  shire  or  County  town 
of  the  County  of  Bristol,  instead  of  tlie  Town  of  Bristol,  and  for  remov- 
intr  the  books  of  records,  and  papers,  of  the  said  County  of  Bristol,  that 
are  in  the  Town  of  Bristol,  to  the  said  Town  of  Taunton. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives, 

(Sect.  1.)  That  from  and  after  the  thirteenth  day  of  November,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-six,  the  town 
of  Taunton  shall  be  and  hereby  is  made  and  established  the  county  or 
shire  town  of  the  county  of  Bristol,  instead  of  the  town  of  Bristol,  and 
that  the  superiour  court  of  judicature,  court  of  assize  and  general  goal 
delivery,  and  the  court  of  general  sessions  of  the  peace,  and  inferiour 
court  of  common  pleas,  which  by  law  was  heretofore  to  be  held  and  kept 
at  the  said  town  of  Bristol  for  the  said  county,  shall  forever  hereafter  be 
held  and  kept  at  the  said  town  of  Taunton,  within  and  for  said  county, 
on  such  days  respectively,  from  time  to  time,  as  are  now  by  law  estab- 
lished for  said  county,  and  for  the  same  respective  ends  and  purposes, 
and  with  the  same  authority,  respectively,  as,  heretofore,  the  said  courts 
were  held  and  kept  in  the  town  of  Bristol;  and  all  causes,  suits  and 
actions  depending  and  to  have  ben  heard  in  the  several  courts  in  said 
town  of  Bristol,  for  said  county,  shall  be  heard  and  tr(y)(i)ed  at  Taun- 
ton, by  the  said  courts  resi^ectively,  on  the  same  days  on  which  they 
should  have  been  heard  and  tried  at  Bristol  before  the  passing  of  this 
act. 

(Sect.  2. )  And  all  writs,  whether  original  or  of  execution,  informa- 
tions, presentments,  venireft  for  jurymen,  and  all  other  writings  and  in- 
struments that  by  law  were  returnable  to  the  several  courts  or  offices  in 
Bristol,  shall  be  and  hereby  are  made  returnable  to  the  same  courts  and 
offices,  respectively,  in  the  town  of  Taunton. 

(Sect.  3  )  And  all  the  records  and  papers  of  the  court  of  general 
sessions  of  the  peace,  inferiour  court  of  common  pleas,  court  of  probate 
of  wulls  and  for  granting  letters  of  administration,  and  of  the  register  of 
deeds,  now  in  the  said  town  of  Bristol,  shall  be  forthwith  delivered  to 
George  Leonard,  Esq(r).,  Mr.  Thomas  Foster  and  John  Shephard,  Esq(r)., 
or  the  major  part  of  them,  who  shall  cause  them  immediately  to  be  con- 
veyed to  the  said  town  of  Taunton,  and  there  safely  deposited  under  the 
care  of  the  same  persons  as  heretofore,  or  others,  as  said  committee 
shall  judge  best,  who  shall  serve  in  these  offices  with  full  power,  and 
shall  give  the  same  obligations  and  be  under  the  like  penalties  as  they 
or  others  had  or  were  under  heretofore,  until  this  court  shall  further 
order,  or  others  shall  be  duly  appointed  in  their  stead. 

(Sect.  4.)  And  the  said  committee  are  also  directed  to  demand  and 
receive  of  the  treasurer  of  said  county,  now  living  in  the  town  of  Bristol, 
all  money,  records  and  papers  to  said  county  belonging,  which  they  are 


392        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

also  directed  to  remove  and  deposit  at  Taunton,  in  the  same  manner  as 
is  before  directed  concerning  the  records  and  papers  to  the  said  courts 
belonging;  and  the  several  clerks,  treasurer,  register,  and  all  other  per- 
sons who  are  possessed  of  any  records,  books,  papers,  money  or  other 
things  belonging  to  said  county  (such  person  or  persons  living  now  in 
said  town  of  Bristol,)  are  hereby  impowered  and  required  to  deliver 
them  forthwith  to  the  said  committee. 

(Sect.  5.)  And  the  sheriff  of  the  said  county  is  hereby  directed  to 
cause  all  prisioners  now  in  his  majestic' s  goal  in  the  county  of  Bristol, 
to  be  conveyed  to  said  town  of  Taunton,  and  there  put  under  safe  cus- 
tody, in  some  proper  place  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose,  'till  said  county 
shall  provide  a  proper  goal  in  said  town  of  Taunton,  or  'till  they  shall  be 
delivered  by  due  course  of  law.  (Passed  November  13;  published  Nov- 
ember 14. 

Mr.  James  H.  Dean,  in  his  valuable  sketch  of  Taunton    thus 
states  the  action  had  on  the  subject. 

"The  earliest  matter  receiving  attention  after  Taunton  was  made  the 
shire  town  of  the  county  was  the  providing  a  county  house  and  jail. 
The  record  is  as  follows : 

"At  his  Majesty's  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  begun 
and  held  at  Taunton  within  and  for  the  County  of  Bristol,  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  December,  being  the  ninth  day  of  the  said  month,  A.  D.  174(5. 

Justices  present:  Seth  Williams,  Thomas  Terry,  George  Leonard, 
Timothy  Fales,  Samuel  Willis,  Thomas  Bowen,  Stephen  Paine,  Silvester 
Richmond.  Jr.,  Ephraim  Leonard,  John  Foster,  Edward  Hay  ward,  Sam- 
uel Rowland,  Samuel  Leonard,  John  Godfrey,  Samuel  White. 

Timothy  Fales,  Esq.,  chosen  Clerk  of  this  Court  and  Sworn. 

Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  School  House  in  Taunton  shall  be  for 
the  present  impressed  for  a  Goal  and  that  Samuel  Leonard,  John  God- 
frey, and  Samuel  White,  Esqrs.  be  a  committee  to  see  that  said  School 
House  be  made  as  secure  as  may  be  for  the  safe  custody  of  all  persons 
that  maybe  committed  thereto  with  the  utmost  dispatch,  and  that  Seth 
Williams  the  second  shall  take  care  to  secure  the  two  prisioners  now  in 
custody  and  all  others  that  shall  be  committed  in  the  mean  time. 

Ordered  by  the  Court  that  Seth  Williams,  George  Leonard,  Samuel 
Leonard,  .lahn  (Jodfrey,  and  Samuel  White,  E.sqrs.  be  a  committee  to 
look  out  a  suitable  jilace  for  the  standing  of  a  Goal  and  County  house  in 
the  Town  of  Taunton,  &  know  what  the  land  for  erecting  said  houses  on 
may  be  purchased  for  and  make  report  of  their  doings  thereon  at  the 
adjournment  of  this  Court." 

At  the  adjournment  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  1747,  the 
committee  for  looking  out  a  suitable  place  for  County  house  and  Goal 
made  their  report  as  followeth  to  wit:     "We  the  subscribers  appointed  a 


APPENDIX.  393 

committee  as  within  mentioned  to  look  out  a  suitable  place  for  the 
standing  of  a  G.oal  and  County  house  in  the  Town  of  Taunton  liave  pur- 
suant to  the  within  orders  looked  out  a  suitable  place  as  we  apprehend 
which  is  towards  the  upper  end  of  the  old  Training  Field  a  little  below 
where  they  used  to  dig  gravel  and  is  to  be  sixty  foot  square  which  place 
we  look  upon  to  be  the  most  suitable  for  setting  a  County  house  upon 
provided  the  Town  Proprietors'  Committee  give  a  legall  conveyance 
thereof  with  a  suitable  and  convenient  way  to  pass  to  and  from  said 
place.  And  also  that  the  most  suitable  place  for  setting  a  Goal  and  Goal 
house  be  on  the  land  of  Samuel  White  and  Mr.  Semeon  Tisdale  at  a  place 
near  the  spring  (so-called)  adjoining  to  the  way  that  leads  from  said  Tis- 
dale's  to  Mr.  Grossman's  grist  mill  provided  the  said  White  and  Tisdale 
give  a  legal  conveyance  thereof. 

Seth  Williams, 

George  Leonard, 

Sam'l.    Leonard, 

John  Godfrey, 

Samuel  White, 

Committee.  " 

Which  rcjiort  was  ai)i)rovcd  of  and  accepted  by  the  court. 

"Ordered  by  the  Court  that  John  Foster,  Silvester  Richmond,  Jr. 
and  John  Godfrey  Esqrs.  be  a  committee  to  provide  materials  and  build 
a  County  house  and  Goal  and  Goal  keeper's  house  with  suitable  dis- 
patch. The  Goal  to  be  thirty  foot  long  and  fourteen  foot  wide  two  story 
high  and  fourteen  foot  stud,  to  be  studded  with  sawed  stuff  of  six  inches 
thick  to  be  framed  close  together  with  a  chimney  in  the  middle  suitable 
for  a  Goal.  The  house  for  prison  keeper  to  be  seventeen  foot  wide  and 
twenty  three  foot  long  two  story  high  besides  the  entry  between  the 
Goal  and  dwelling  house  and  to  be  fourteen  foot  stud  with  a  suitable 
chimney  and  cellar." 

At  an  adjournment  Jan.  28,  1747,  Samuel  White  was  appointed  on 
the  committee  in  place  of  Silvester  Richmond,  who  was  appointed 
sheriff. 

"January  28,  17-46-7.  Ordered  by  the  Court  that  George  Leonard, 
Ephraim  Leonard  and  John  Foster,  Esqrs.,  be  a  committee  to  receive 
deeds  of  conveyance  from  the  committee  of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  and 
proprietors  of  said  Town,  of  the  lands  mentioned  in  the  committee's 
report  (as  oil  file)  for  the  use  of  the  County  of  Bristol." 

The  following  appears  in  the  records  of  the  Court  in  June,  1047: 

"Upon  the  Court's  receiving  a  subscription  of  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  the  sum  of 
nine  hundred  twenty  two  pounds,  fifteen  shillings,  old  tenor,  from  the 
subscriber's  committee,   for  building  a  Court  house,   ordered  that  the 


394  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

same  shall  be  accepted,  and  that  the  committee  appointed  by  this  court 
shall  be  joined  with  the  aforesaid  committee  of  the  subscribers  in  build- 
ing the  Court-house  as  projected  by  the  subscribers,  and  what  further 
may  be  subscribed  on  the  land  given  by  the  proprietors  and  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  and  as  lias  been  accepted  by  the  Court  of  Gen- 
eral Sessions  of  the  Peace,  holden  at  Taunton,  by  adjournment  in  Jan- 
uary last." 

History  of  Bristol  County — Massachusetts — p.  769 


APPENDIX  DD. 

(Page  56.) 

Mittimus  to  the  Keeper  of  the  Goal  at  Taunton.  You  are  hereby 
ordered  and  diiectod  to  take  unto  your  Custody  Edward  Webb,  Thomas 
Newman,  Charles  Clarke,  John  Wooden,  John  Dunstcr.  and  AVilliam 
Carthieu,  prisoners  of  War,  and  them  safely  keep,  in  Close  Confine- 
ment, till  the  further  order  of  the  Major  part  of  the  Council — Hereof 
fail  not  at  your  Peril. 

Signed  by  fifteen  of  the  Council. 
(Monday,  October  9th  1775.  Date  of  Meeting.) 

Return  from  the  Keeper  of  the  Goal  at  Taunton  Informing  the 
Hon.bie  Council  of  the  Escape  of  three  prisoners — Viz  Bartholomew  Lan- 
ham  a  Serjant  and  Robert  Pomeroy  a  Sailor  both  taken  on  Noddles 
Island  &  William  Smith  a  Marine  taken  at  the  Light  House — In  Council 
Read  and  Ordered  to  be  Entered  on  the  files  of  Council. 
(Wednesday,  October  11th  1775.  Date  of  Meeting.) 


APPENDIX  EE. 

(Page  57.) 

The  Massachusetts  Spy  of  Sept.  i,  1774  contains  a  letter  from 
Taunton,  dated  Aug.  25th,  in  which  the  writer  says  : 

— "Tliis  morning  about  200  men  met  at  the  Ware  Bridge,  in  this 
town,  and  after  choosing  a  moderator,  appointed  a  Committee  to  warn 
the  towns  of  Dighton,  Swansey,  Raynham,  Norton,  Mansfield,  Attle- 
borough   and   Easton   to   meet  tomorrow,   at  eight  oclock,    when  it  is 


APPENDIX.  395 

thought  two  or  three  thousand  men  will  be  assembled,  from  whence 
they  are  to  proceed  to  Freetown  to  wait  on  Col.  Gilbert,  and  desire  of 
him  not  to  accept  of  the  office  of  high  Sheriff  under  the  present  adminis- 
tration of  the  new  laws,  and  that  if  he  should,  he  must  abide  by  the  con- 
seciuences;  also  to  desire  Urigadier  Ruggles  to  depart  this  county  imme- 
diately.—Such  is  the  spirit  of  this  County;  they  seem  to  be  <iuite  awake 
and  to  have  awoke  in  a  passion.  It  is  more  dangerous  being  a  tory  here, 
than  at  Boston,  even  if  no  troops  were  there" — 


APPENDIX  FF. 

[Page  57.] 
BltlSTOL  COUNTY  KESOLVES.     Sept.,  1774. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Gentlemen,  Delegates  from  the  following  towns 
in  the  county  of  Bristol,  viz.:  Taunton,  Dartmouth,  Behoboth,  Free- 
town, Dighton,  Swansea,  Norton,  Mansfield,  Eaynham,  Berkley,  anil 
Easton ;  held  at  the  Court  House,  in  Taunton,  on  the  28th  and  29th  days 
of  September,  1774,  to  consult  upon  the  proper  measures  to  be  taken  at 
the  present  alarming  crisis  of  our  public  affairs. 

Zepheniah  Leonard,  Esq;  chosen  Chairman. 

After  having  read  the  act  of  parliament  for  regulating  the  govern- 
ment of  this  province,  and  the  resolves  of  the  counties  of  Suffolk,  ifid- 
dlesex,  &c.  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

Whereas  our  ancestors,  of  blessed  memory,  from  a  prudent  care  for 
themselves,  and  a  tender  concern  for  their  descendants,  did  through  a 
series  of  unparalled  dangers  and  distresses,  purchase  a  valuable  inherit- 
ance in  this  western  world,  and  carefully  transmitted  the  same  to  us  their 
posterity;  and  whereas  for  many  years  past,  we  have  (juietly  enjoyed  cer- 
tain rights  and  privileges,  stipulated  by  charter,  and  repeatedly  con- 
firmed by  royal  engagements;  which  rights  and  privileges  are  now  un- 
justly invaded  by  the  pretended  authority  of  a  British  parliament,  under 
pretext  that  it  is  inexpedient  for  us  any  longer  to  enjoy  them;  and  as  tlie 
same  persons  which  found  out  this  inexpediency,  will  no  doubt,  in  time, 
discover  that  it  is  inexpedient  for  us  to  enjoy  any  rights  and  even  any 
property  at  all;  we  cannot  in  justice  to  ourselves  and  posterity,  and  in 
gratitude  to  our  revered  ancestors,  tamely  stand  by  and  suffer  everything 
that  is  valuable  and  dear  to  be  wrested  from  us ;  but  are  resolutely  deter- 
mined, at  the  ris(iue  of  our  fortunes  and  lives,  to  defend  our  natural  and 
compacted  rights ;  and  to  oppose  to  our  utmost  all  illegal  and  unconstitu- 
tional measures,  which  have  been  or  may  be  hereafter  adopted  by  a 


396  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

British  parliaiiK'nt,  or  a  British  ministry.  And  though  we  depricate  the 
evils  which  are  naturally  conseciuent  upon  a  breach  of  that  mutual  affec- 
tion and  confidence  which  has  subsisted  betwixt  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies;  yet  we  think  it  better  to  suffer  those  evils  than  voluntarily  sub- 
mit to  perpetual  slavery. 

We  are  sensible  that  the  important  ci'isis  before  us  demands  the  ex- 
ercise of  much  wisdom,  prudence  and  fortitude,  and  we  sincerely  hope 
that  all  our  deliberations  and  actions  will  be  guided  by  the  principles  of 
sound  reason,  and  a  hearty  desire  to  promote  the  true  interest  of  the 
Britisli  empire.     Accordingly,  we  resolve  in  the  following  manner,  viz. 

llesolved.  That  we  fully  recognize  George  the  Third,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  &c.  as  oiu-  rightfuU  sovereign,  and  as  allegiance  and  protection 
are  reciprocal,  we  are  determined  faithfully  to  yield  the  former  as  long  as 
we  are  allowed  the  enjoyment  of  the  latter. 

Resolved,  That  the  late  acts  of  the  British  jjarliament,  relating  to  the 
continent  in  general,  and  this  province  in  particular,  are  contrary  to  re;v 
son,  and  the  spirit  of  the  English  constitution,  and  if  complied  with,  will 
reduce  us  to  the  most  abject  state  of  servitude. 

Resolved,  That  all  civil  officers  in  this  province,  considered  as  holding 
their  respective  offices  bythe  tenure  specified  in  a  late  act  of  the  Britisli 
l)arliainent,  deserve  neither  obedience  nor  respect;  but  we  will  support  all 
such  civil  authority  that  is  agreable  to  the  charter  of  the  province, 
granted  by  King  William  and  Queen  Mary. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  our  opinion,  that  the  several  towns  of  this  county 
should  regulate  themselves  in  all  tlieir  public  proceedings  agreeable  to 
the  laws  of  this  province. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  use  our  utmost  endeavors  to  discountenance 
and  suppress,  all  mobs,  riots  and  breaches  of  the  peace,  and  will  afford 
all  the  protection  in  our  power  to  the  persons  and  properties  of  our  loyal 
fellow  subjects. 

Resolved,  That  in  all  things,  we  will  regulate  ourselves  by  the  opin- 
ion and  advice  of  the  continental  congress,  now  sitting  at  Philadelphia; 
and  as  we  place  great  confidence  in  the  abilities  of  the  gentlemen,  mem- 
bers of  that  Congress,  we  will  cheerfidly  subscribe  to  their  determina- 
tions. 

liesolved.  That  our  brethren  of  the  town  of  Boston,  who  are  now 
suffering  under  the  cruel  hand  of  power  in  the  common  cause  of  Amer- 
ica, arc  justly  entitled  to  all  that  support  and  relief  which  we  can,  and 
are  now  ready  to  afford  them. 

Resolved,  That  whereas  our  brethren  of  the  county  of  Suffolk  have, 
by  their  spirited  and  noble  resolutions,  fully  made  known  our  sentiments, 
we  therefore  think  unnecessary  for  us  to  be  more  particular,  as  we  most 
cheerfidly  adojit  tlieir  measures  and  resolutions. 


APPENDIX.  397 

Voted,  Tliafc  tlie  above  proceeding  be  inserted  in  the  public  pai)ers. 

Voted,  Tliat  the  committee  for  the  town  of  Taunton,  be  im])Owered 
to  call  a  meeting  of  this  body,  whenever  they  think  it  necessary. 

Voted,  That  the  tliiinks  of   this  Ixxly  l)e  given    to  the  Chairman    for 
his  faithful  services. 

Voted,  That  this  asscmlily  be  adjouined  and  it  was  at-cordingly  ad- 
journed. 

,  A  true  copy 

DAVID  COBB,  Clerk. 
[Massachusetts  S])y,  October  (>,  1774.] 


APPENDIX  FFa. 

[Page  58.] 

The  battle  of  Lexington  took  place  on  April  19,  1775.  The 
news  reached  Taunton  in  the  afternoon  or  evening  of  that 
clay.  By  an  arrangement  previously  made,  the  Committees  of 
Safety  throughout  the  Province  dispatched  messengers  on  horse 
in  every  direction;  every  town  within  one  hundred  miles  being  in- 
formed by  evening  that  the  war  had  begun.  The  news  was  made 
known  through  the  town  by  the  firing  of  guns  and  other  signals 
so  that  people  in  remote  sections  of  a  town  weret  »soon  aware  that 
they  were  needed.  We  give  below  the  rolls  of  the  two  Taunton 
companies  : 

A  muster  roll  of  .James  Williams,  Jr"s.,  company  of  minute  men, 
which  marched  from  Taunton  to  Roxbury,  each  one  from  his  respective 
home,  on  the  20th  day  of  April,  177o:  Captain  ,Jas.  Williams,  ,Jun., 
Lieutenant  Josiah  King,  Ensign  Abiel  Macomber,  Sergeant  John  Shaw, 
Sergeant  John  Hall,  Sergeant  Abra.  Hathaway,  Sergeant  Dan  Briggs, 
Drummer  Eben  Sumner,  Fifer  Eben  Pitts,  Jr.,  Privates  Thomas  An- 
drews, George  Andrews,  Jacob  Burt,  Richard  Cobb,  Rich'd  Caswell,  Job 
Caswell,  John  Caswell,  Ashel  Crossman,  Job  Dean,  Xathan  Dean,  Micah 
Dean,  Abijah  Dean,  Eben'r  Dean  2d,  Joseph  Eliot,  George  Eliot,  Jr., 
John  Godfrey,  Seth  Godfrey,  Elijah  Gushee,  Peter  Hoskins,  Joshua  Hall, 
Reuben  Hart,  Hezekiah  Hall,  \Vm.  Johnson,  (xeorge  King,  Job  King, 
Nathan  King,  Eliab  Knap,   Atherton   Knaj),  Daniel  Lane,   Silvester  Liu- 


398  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

koii.  James  liiitham,  Benj.  Leach,  Jona.  Macomber,  Edw'd  Paul,  Zach. 
Padelford,  Jas.  Padelford,  James  Presho,  Eben'r  Robinson  2d,  Josiali 
Robinson  2d,  Gideon  Shaw,  Joseph  Shaw,  Jr.,  Job  Smith,  Jr.,  James 
Sliaw,  Seth  Staple,  Elibeus  Shelly,  Ashel  Shaw,  Shadrack  Wilbore,  Rich. 
Williams,  Hamaniel  Wilbore,  Israel  AVashburn,  Jr.,  Ephraim  Wood,  Seth 
Williams,  Nath.  Woodward,  Thomas  Williams. 

These  were  all  of  Taunton,  except  Elijah  Gushee,  Joshua 
Hall,  and  Hezekiah  Hall,  all  of  Raynham,  and  Daniel  Lane,  of  Nor- 
ton. They  served  twelve  days,  and  were  paid  as  follows  :  Capt. 
£2  IDS.  Lieut.,  ^i  i6s.  8d.  Sergeants,  £\  i6s.  Privates,  ;^i 
3s.  9  d.  each.     Total,  ^76  4s. 

Capt.  Robert  Grossman's  company  was  also  in  service  twelve 
days,  as  follows : 

Robert  Grossman,  Captain,  Joshua  Wilbore,  1st  Lieutenant,  Edw. 
Blake,  2d  Lieutenant,  Sergeant  Elkanah  Hoskins,  Sergeant  Eben  Babbitt, 
Sergeant  Josiah  Smith,  Sergeant  Lem.  Hathaway,  Corporal  Rufus  Lin- 
con,  Corporal  Elka.  Smith,  Corporal  Rufus  Barney,  Corporal  Simeon 
Palmer,  Fifer  Joseph  Wood,  James  Ball,  Henry  Brooks,  Eben  Grossman, 
Jabez  Carver,  James  Davis,  John  Dillinham,  Daniel  Drake,  Jona.  French, 
Ephraim  Hathaway,  Samuel  Hoskins,  Richard  Hunt,  Josias  Hall,  James 
Hodges,  Elkana  Hodges,  Jona.  Ingle,  Silvester  Jones,  Elijah  Leonard, 
Benj.  Lincon,  Joshua  Lincon,  Nat.  Leonard,  Jr.,  Stephen  Long,  John 
Pratt,  Amasiah  Richmond,  John  Richmond,  John  Read,  Solomon  Smith, 
James  Stacey,  Nat.  Tower,  Beuoni  Tisdale,  (ieorge  Tisdale,  John  Tur- 
ner, Nat.  Williams  1st,  Nat.  Williams  2d,  Jona.  Williams,  James  Wood- 
ward, Joseph  Willia^is,  Benj.  Wilbore,  Isaac  Washburn,  Stephen  Wood- 
ward, Daniel  Wetherel,  Thomas  White,  Stephen  White,  Benj.  Jones, 
Edward  White. 

We  are  indebted  to  Arthur  M.  Alger  Esqr.,  for  the  informa- 
tion above  given. 


APPENDIX   GG. 

[rage  58.] 

The  List  and  Proceedings  of   this  Committee  of  Inspection 
and  Correspondence  is  here  given  in  full. 


APPENDIX.  399 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Taunton  on  ]\[on- 
(lay,  July  3rd,  1775,  said  town  made  choice  of 

George  Godfrey,  Esq.  Capt.  Henry  Hodges, 

Maj'r.  Ricliard  Godfrey,  Lieut.  Solomon  Dean, 

Ensign  Ichabod  Leonard,  Cap.  Simeon  Williams, 

Lieut.  Elisha  Banney,  James  Williams,  Jr. 

Lieut  Ebenezer  Cobb,  J^ieut.  Wm.  Thayer, 

Lieut.  Benj.  Dean,  Jr.  Mr.  Elijah  Lincoln, 

Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies,  Doc.  David  Cobb, 

Benj.  Williams,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Adam, 

Col.  Geo.  Williams,  Mr.  Josiah  Crocker, 

Lieut.  Edward  Blake,  Robert  Luscombe,  Esq., 

Mr.   John  Keen, 
as  a  Committee  of  insi>ection  and  correspondence  for  said  town  and  any 
seven  to  make  a  quorum. 

The  Committee  of  Inspection,  etc.,  of  the  town  of  Taunton  met  to- 
gether on  Monday,  July  10th,  1775,  and  made  choice  of  James  Williams, 
Jr.  for  their  clerk. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies,  Col.  Geo.  Williams  and  *Capt.  John  Read  were 
chosen  a  Committee  to  take  into  their  care  the  effects  and  estate  of 
Daniel  Leonard,  Esq.,  lying  in  Taunton,  who  has  fled  for  protection  to 
Boston.  Said  Committee  to  improve  or  let  the  same  to  the  best  advan- 
tage and  render  a  true  accoimt  of  the  profits  arising  therefrom  to  this 
Committee  or  any  other  committee  of  correspondence  of  this  town  that 
shall  be  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

VOTED— That  Geo.  Godfrey,  Esq.,  Capt.  Simeon  Williams  and  Col. 
Geo.  Williams  be  a  committee  to  take  into  their  custody  the  Pork  and 
Grain  now  in  the  store  of  Doc.  McKinstry  and  send  the  same  to  the  army 
as  soon  as  may  be,  and  take  an  account  of  the  same  and  keep  an  account 
of  the  cost  of  transportation. 

Doc.  David  Cobb  and  Capt.  Simeon  Williams  were  added  to  the  first 
mentioned  committee  to  take  care  of  the  goods  and  estate  of  Daniel 
Leonard,  Esq.,  and  said  Committee  or  the  major  part  of  them,  to  take 
care  of  the  effects  and  estate  of  any  other  persons  who  have  fled  to  Bos- 
ton for  protection,  and  to  let  or  improve  the  same  to  the  best  advantage, 
and  render  an  account  of  the  profits  thereof. 
Wednesday,  August  2d,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  and  VOTED — That  no  future  vote  or  resolve  of 
this  Committee  shall  be  good  or  binding  unless  such  vote  or  resolve  be 
minuted  or  recorded  by  the  Clerk. 

VOTED — That  Mr.  Jonathan  Cobb  be  permitted  to  sail  out 

of  Taunton   great  river,   where  she  is  now  lying,  to  any  place 

which  is  not  forbid  by  the  Continental  or  Prov.  Congress. 

•*His  name  is  probably  oiuitted  by  mistake  on  the  committee  cliosen,  July  3(1. 


400  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

There  was  delivered  to  James  Williams  Jr.,  one  note  from  K.  Lis- 
combe,  Esq.  t'ii.8:  one  from  Eobt.  Caldwell  for  the  Committee  t'0.0; 
Dean  &  Crocker  £'2.8,  one  from  Lem.  Hathaway  £2.8. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  Monday  next  at  i  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Monday  Aug.  Tth,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  and  adjourned  said  meeting  to  Monday,  Aug.  14, 
1775.  Said  meeting  further  adjourned  to  the  21st  instant  and  from  that 
time  to  the  23rd  of  said  month. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  inspection  Aug.  23d.  1775,  Re- 
solved, that  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  town, 
that  thej'  refrain  from  killing  any  Lambs  till  the  further  advice  of  this 
Committee,  or  some  future  Committee  of  this  town :  agreeable  to  a  late 
resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress.  The  Committee  being  informed  of 
divers  letters  from  Newport  to  sundry  Merchants  and  Traders  in  this 
town  desiring  them  to  collect  all  the  Flax  Seed  in  their  power,  so  that  it 
may  be  shipp'd,  before  the  10th  of  Sep.  next,  and  as  such  conduct  at 
this  time  must  essentially  militate  against  the  spirit  of  the  Association 
of  the  Continental  Congress, 

Therefore,  Resolved,  that  no  person  in  this  town  be  guilty  of  trans- 
poi-ting  or  exporting  any  Flax  Seed  so  that  it  may  go  off  the  Continent, 
and  that  this  resolve  be  printed  in  the  Providence  and  Watertown  news- 
papers, and  a  Copy  sent  to  the  Committee  of*each  town  in  the  county  of 
Bristol. 

Monday,  Aug.  2Sth,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  met  and  Voted  that  the  Clerk  set 
up  one  or  more  advertisements  in  the  town  respecting  non-commissioned 
officers  and  soldiers  who  have  absented  themselves  from  the  Continental 
army. 

Joseph  Dean,  being  complained  of  for  his  late  conduct  in  transacting 
business  for  Thomas  Paddock  of  Middleborough,  the  Committee  put  off 
the  hearing  thereof  to  Monday  next  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Col.  Godfrey,  Doc.  Cobb  and  James  Williams,  Jr,  were  chosen  a 
Committee  to  write  to  the  Committee  of  Providence  respecting  exporta- 
tion of  Flax  Seed. 

Mr.  Ichabod  Leonard  was  desired  to  caution  Jacob  Leonard  or  any 
other  person  against  carrying  any  Flax  Seed  out  of  this  town. 

Lieut.  William  Thayer  and  Lieut.  Cobb  were  desired  to  do  the  same 
to  Henry  Burt  and  others. 

Monday,  Sep.  4th,  1775. 

The  Committee  then  met.  A  vote  was  called  to  see  whether  Joseph 
Dean  has  transgressed  in  his  going  to  the  General  Court  to  transact  bus- 
iness for  Thomas  Paddock.     Passed  in  the  negative. 


APPENDIX.  401 

2d  A  vote  was  called  to  see  wliether  he  had  transgressed  in  utter- 
ing some  slanderous  expressions  respecting  the  town  of  Middleborough, 
and  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Thereupon,  Voted,  that  said  Joseph  make  an  acknowledgment 
therefor — which  was  done  in  writing  before  this  Committee. 

The  meeting  was  then  dismissed. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  and  Correspondence 
of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  Dec.  8,  1775 — 

Whereas,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  at  this  time  of  general  dan- 
ger to  use  our  power  for  the  preservation  of  peace  and  unity  in  every 
respect;  and  whereas,  of  late  some  uneasiness  hath  arisen  on  account  of 
the  sale  of  Rum,  Molasses,  English  Goods,  and  other  merchandise  which 
by  the  cruelty  of  our  common  enemy  is  very  likely  to  become  scarce 
amongst  us — and  taking  under  consideration  the  recommendation  of  the 
Grand  Congress  respecting  the  venders  of  goods  and  merchandise,  we 
have  thought  proper  to  adjourn  this  meeting  to  the  18th  of  Dec.  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Eliphaz  Harlow  in 
Taunton.  Then  and  there  to  hear  all  such  complaints  as  shall  be  ex- 
hibited to  us  touching  such  venders  of  goods  in  said  Taunton:  and  de- 
termine thereon,  agreeable  to  the  Association  of  s'd  Congress. 

Geo.  Godfi-ey,  Esq.,  Mr.  Josiah  Crocker,  Benj.  Williams,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Nicholas  Baylies  and  James  W^illiams,  Jr.  were  appointed  to  examine 
the  invoices  and  other  papers  of  said  Traders  which  can  inform  said 
Committee  of  anything  respecting  purchasing  or  selling  such  goods  and 
merchandise. 

Dec.  18,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment  and  after  the  Committee  had  made  a 
verbal  report  the  meeting  was  dismissed. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Taunton  met  on 
the  2d  of  Octo.  1775, 

Voted,  that  the  money  which  was  given  by  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Town  towards  the  support  of  the  poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  be  now 
paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Select  Men  of  the  Town  of  Taunton:  and  that 
said  Select  Men  apply  the  same  for  the  support  of  said  Poor  who  are  or 
may  come  to  Taunton,  and  that  said  Select  Men  keep  an  account  of 
what  they  expend. 

The  Committee  of  Inspection  and  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of 
Taunton  met  on  the  4th  of  March  1776 — To  consider  a  complaint  made 
by  Isaiah  Stephens  against  Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies,  respecting  said  Baylies' 
tendering  money  in  the  name  of  Henry  Lawton,  etc.  and  after  consider- 


402  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

ing  said  complaint  and  hearing  both  parties,  said  Committee  were  of 
the  opinion  that  said  Baylies  had  not  trangressed  against  any  resolve  of 
Congress  or  General  Court.  The  Committee  then  adjourned  their  meet- 
ing to  Friday  next  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Friday  Mch.  8,  1776. 

Then  met  according  to  adjournment.  The  Committee  having  been 
informed  that  Nathaniel  Bird  of  Taunton,  a  shopkeeper  in  said 
Town  had  refused  the  Continental  Bills  in  pay  for  his  goods;  and  said 
Bird  being  desired  to  appear  before  said  Committee  to  answer  to  the 
aforesaid  charge,  refused  to  attend;  and  as  the  Committee  are 
sufficiently  convinced  from  the  examination  of  a  number  of  evidences 
that  said  Bird  has  been  repeatedly  guilty  in  refusing  paper  currency 
without  a  very  great  discount  thereon,  and  sundry  instances  refused 
taking  it; 

Therefore,  in  compliance  with  the  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress and  of  the  General  Court  of  this  Province:  said  Committee  think 
it  proper  to  publish  said  Bird  to  the  world  as  an  enemy  to  American 
Freedom,  and  all  persons  are  forewarned  having  any  trade  or  intercourse 
with  him  as  they  regard  the  welfare  of  this  country  or  the  authority  of 
the  Continent. 

Further,  Voted,  that  James  Williams,  Jr.,  Clerk  of  said  Committee 
send  copies  to  the  Printers  of  Cambridge,  Watertown  and  Providence, 
for  publishing  said  Bird,  and  set  notifications  up  in  this  and  the  neigh- 
boring Towns. 

This  closes  the  proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection 
and  Correspondence  first  chosen,  July  3,  1775.  Another  similar 
Committee  was  chosen  in  the  spring  of  1776,  the  proceedings  of 
which  appear  below  : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Taunton  on  Monday 
the  11th  of  March  1776,  the  Town  made  choice  of 

Geo.  Godfrey,  Esq.  Benj.  Williams,  Esq. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies,  Col.  Geo.  Williams; 

Capt.  Henry  Hodges,  Doc.  David  Cobb, 

Capt.  Simeon  Williams,  .James  Williams,  Jr., 

Mr.  Elislia  Barney, 

to  serve  as  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety, for  the 
year  ensuing,  agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  wliicli  ))assed 
Feby.  KJ,  177(i.     Attest  James  Williams,  T.  Clerk. 

The  above  Committee  met  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Eliphaz 
Harlow  in  Taunton  Monday  evening  Mcli,  11,  1776,  and  made  choice  of 


APPENDIX.  4O3 

James  Williams,  Jr.  for  their  Clerk,  Geo.  Godfrey,  Esq.  for  their  Chair- 
man and  Benjamin  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman  in  the  absence  of  Esq. 
Godfrey. 

The  Committee  taking  into  consideration  a  complaint  to  the  former 
Committee  of  this  town  against  Nathaniel  Bird  respecting  his  condnct 
in  refusing  paper  bills,  and  the  proceeding  of  said  Committee  thereon. 
Therefore,  Voted,  to  continue  said  meeting  for  a  further  hearing  to 
Wednesday  next  at  tliree  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Wednesday,  Mch.  13,  1776,  met  and  further  adjourned  said  meeting 
to  Monday,  Mch.  18th. 

Mch.  IS,  1770.  The  Committee  met  and  i^roceeded  as  follows,  viz: 
In  Committee,  Taunton,  Mch.  8,  1776,  Nathaniel  Bird  a  shopkeeper  in 
this  Town  being  convicted  for  refusing  Paper  Currency  in  his  payments, 
the  Committee  resolved  to  publish  him  to  the  world  agreeable  to  the 
order  of  the  Continent,  but  said  Bird  soon  after  applied  to  the  Commit- 
tee desiring  their  pardon  for  his  crime  and  promising  reformation  for 
the  future.  They  therefore  have  stopped  all  proceedings  against  him 
and  recommend  him  for  the  future  to  the  good  opinion  of  the  Continent 
on  his  signing  the  follovring  paper. 
By  order  of  the  Committee,  Attest  James  Williams,  Jr.  Clerk. 

Whereas,!,  the  subscriber,  a  shopkeeper  in  this  Town  have  been 
repeatedly  guilty  in  refusing  Paper  Currency  in  pay  for  my  goods  and  as 
I  find  that  my  conduct  in  so  doing  has  essentially  interfered  with  the 
resolutions  of  the  Continent  and  of  the  General  Court  of  this  Province, 
I  therefore  in  this  humble  and  public  manner  ask  the  forgiveness  of  my 
country,  and  promise  determinately  for  the  future  to  abide  by  and  per- 
sonally support  the  resolutions  of  the  Congress  and  General  Court  of 
this  Pi'ovince  as  far  as  lays  in  my  power. 

Taunton  Mch.  18,  1776.  N.  Bird. 

Recorded  per  James  Williams,  Jr.,  Clerk  to  the  Committee 

Tuesday  Apr.  2,  1776.     The  Committee  met. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies,  Capt.  Simeon  Williams,  Col.  Geo.  Williams, 
Capt.  Henry  Hodges,  and  James  Williams,  Jr.  were  chosen  a  Sub-Com- 
mittee to  take  care  of  the  improvement  for  one  year  or  a  shorter  time,  if 
they  see  fit,  of  the  buildings  and  land  or  other  estate  of  the  several  per- 
sons who  fled  to  Boston  for  refuge  or  of  such  as  are  enemies  to  the  Con- 
tinent— agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of  the  late  Provincial  Congress — and  let 
the  same  to  such  person  or  persons  as  will  give  the  most  at  a  Vendue  to 
be  held  for  that  purpose. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  May  next  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 


404  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

In  Committee  Apl.  22d,  1770. 

Whereas  several  complaints  have  been  made  to  said  Commit- 
tee respecting  the  high  price  which  salt  is  sold  for  in  this  Town,  in  the 
store  of  Mr.  Job  King,  and  owned  by  Mr.  Henry  Bowers  of  Swanzey, 
Therefore,  Voted,  that  Mr.  Bowers  be  notified  to  attend  said  Committee 
on  Thursday  next  at  two  o'cloclc  in  the  afternoon  and  give  reason,  if  any 
he  have,  for  asking  such  an  exhorbitant  price. 

Further  Voted,  that  Cap.  Simeon  Williams  secure  said  store  and  see 
that  no  more  of  said  salt  be  taken  out  till  further  order  of  this  Commit- 
tee, and  if  he  cannot  obtain  the  key,  to  nail  the  door. 

Thursday,  Apl.  2o,  177(5. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment  from  the  22nd  instant. 
Mr.  Bowers  being  present  the  Committee  advised  him  to  dispose  of  his 
salt  after  the  rate  of  4  s.  6  d.  per  bushel,  whereupon  he  consented  to  sell 
fifty  bushels  and  no  more  at  that  price.  The  meeting  was  then  dismissed. 

May  6,  1776.  Being  the  first  Monday  in  said  month  the  Committee 
met  according  to  adjournment  from  the  first  Tuesday  in  April  last,  and 
further  adjourned  said  meeting  to  1st.  Monday  in  June. 

Monday,  May  13,  1776.  The  Committee  met  and  voted  that  the  Sub- 
Committee  whicli  were  chosen  on  the  2d.  of  April  last,  proceed  to  lease 
and  let  the  improvement  of  lands  and  buildings  which  belonged  to  per- 
sons who  are  deemed  enemies  to  the  United  American  Colonies,  agree- 
able to  the  several  Resolves  of  Congress  and  General  Court. 

The  Committee  then  adjourned  their  meeting  to  the  last  Monday  in 
this  month  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

*The  Committee  being  informed  that  Alexander  McPlierson,  a  pris- 
oner sent  this  Town  from  Boston  by  order  of  Council,  had  not  behaved 
as  he  ought  to  have  done;  therefore,  ordered  that  said  McPherson  be 
imprisoned  till  further  order. 

The  t^ommittee  of  Inspection  being  met  Aug.  19,  1776, — 
Eesolved,  that  those  persons  who  have  taken  any  of  the  prisoners 
which  were  delivered  to  the  Committee  by  the  sheriff  of  the  Couuty  of 
Bristol,  keep  said  prisoners  which  they  now  have  till  the  1st.  day  of  Apl. 
next  and  provide  suitably  for  them  in  sickness  and  health,  and  keep 
their  clothing  in  as  good  repair  as  it  was  iu  at  the  time  when  they  were 
distributed,  unless  said  prisoners  are  called  for  before  that  time. 

At  a  Town  Meeting  held  at  Taunton  on  Monday  ]\Ich.  17,  1777  said 
Town  made  choice  of 

Capt.  Simeon  Williams  Capt.  John  Read, 

James  Williams,  Jr.  Capt.  Cornelius  White, 

Capt.  James  Leonard 
♦There  may  be  a  leaf  gone  here  in  the  manuscript. 


APPENDIX.  405 

for  ;i  Committee  of  Conespondence,  Inspection  and  Safety.  And  at  the 
adjournment  of  said  meeting,  viz.  on  the  14th  of  April  following  the 
Town  made  choice  of  the  following  persons  for  an  addition  to  said  Com- 
mittee, to  wit: 

(ieo.  ( Godfrey,  Es(i.,  Capt.  Elisha  Harney, 

Mr.  Ni('holas  Baylies,  Col.  Ceo.  Williams, 

Benjamin  Williams,  Esq. 

Attest:     James  Williams,  .Jr.,  T.  Clerk. 

The  major  part  of  the  before  mentioned  Committee  met  Apl.  14 
1777  and  made  choice  of  Geo.  Godfrey,  Esq.  for  their  Chairman  and 
James  Williams.  Jr.,  for  Clerk.  And  made  choice  of  Capt.  Simeon  Wil- 
liams, James  Williams,  Jr.,  Mr.  Apollas  Leonard,  Capt.  Cornelius  White 
and  Capt.  John  Read  for  to  lease  and  let  out  the  improvement  of  the 
Tory  lands  and  buildings  (so-called)  in  said  town.  Capt.  White  and 
Capt.  Head  are  desired  to  inspect  the  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Laugh  ton 
and  the  land  belonging  to  Laughton  and  Ballou,  and  likewise  a  lot  of  land 
belonging  to  Daniel  Leonard  situated  in  the  South  Westerly  part  of  said 
Town. 

Capt.  Barney  and  Mr.  Leonard  to  inspect  the  Wood  Land  belonging 
to  said  Daniel  Leonard  and  the  land  lately  Mr.  Borland's  in  the  northerly 
part  of  said  Town. 

The  Meeting  then  adjourned  to  Monday  Apl.  21.  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon. 

Apl.  21,  1777.  The  Committee  met  and  chose  James  Williams  Jr., 
Col.  Williams  and  Benj.  Williams  E.sq.,  a  Committee  to  repair  to  the 
land  of  Mr.  Borland  in  the  northerly  part  of  said  Taunton  and  see  what 
(piantity  of  wood  has  been  cut  thereon  and  who  cut  the  same  and  make 
report. 

Mr.  Apollas  Leonard,  Col.  Williams  and  Capt.  Read  were  chosen  to 
lease  out  the  house  and  land  of  Solomon  Smith  and  a  lot  of  land  late 
William  McKinstry's,  near  Streets  Bridge,  if  they  find  said  premises 
come  under  the  care  of  the  Committee. 

( )rdered  that  Munroe  a  Highland  prisoner  ordered  by  the  sheriff  to 
the  town  of  Dighton  (now  in  this  Town)  be  committed  to  Prison  and 
that  the  Committee  of  Dighton  be  acquainted  thereof,  and  Capt.  Lis- 
comb  is  desired  to  commit  him.  The  meeting  adjourned  to  Friday  next 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Friday  Apl.  2d,  1777.  The  Committee  met.  Brig.  Godfrey  and 
James  Williams  Jr.  were  appointed  to  draft  a  petition  to  the  Council  of 
the  State  of  Massts.  Bay,  for  a  removal  of  the  Highland  Prisoners  now 
in  the  Towm  to  some  other  place. 

Mr.  Isaac  Dean  is  desired  to  take  care  of  and  inspect  Litfh'  North 
Meaduw  (so  called)  that  which  is  not  now  within  fence,  and  to  take  the 
grass  or  hay  that  may  grow  thereon  for  one  year. 


406  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

The  Committee  made  choice  of  Mr.  John  Porter,  Capt.  Luscombe 
and  Mr.  Timothy  Foster,  to  take  cave  and  inspect  the  conduct  of  the 
Higliland  Prisoners  now  in  this  Town,  and  if  any  of  them  shall  be  seen 
strolling  or  walking  on  the  Lord's  Day,  any  other  way  than  directly  to 
or  from  some  house  of  Public  Worship  in  said  Town ;  or  out  atany  unsea- 
sonable time  of  night  without  leave  from  the  head  of  the  family  to 
which  they  respectively  belong,  or  give  some  satisfactory  account  for 
their  so  doing,  you  or  any  of  you  are  desired  to  comit  such  prisoner  or 
prisoners  to  Jail,  and  if  any  such  prisoners  belonging  to  any  other  town 
shall  be  found  in  this  Town,  at  any  time  without  leave  given  by  some 
Committee,  Sheriff  or  other  creditable  person  or  giving,  a  satisfactory 
account  thereof,  you  are  desii-ed  to  commit  them  to  said  Jail. 

Voted  that  George  Godfrey  Esq.,  draft  and  sign  a  Petition  to  the 
Hon.  Geo.  Leonard  Esq.,  Judge  of  Probate  &c.  for  the  County  of  Bristol, 
and  in  the  behalf  of  said  Committee  desire  him  to  appoint  an  agent  or 
agents  for  the  estate  of  Danl.  Leonard  Esq.,  Solomon  Smith  and  Doc. 
Wm.  McKinstry,  they  having  left  the  Town  of  Taunton  for  more  than 
three  months,  and  each  of  them  leaving  an  estate  of  more  than  twenty 
pounds  value. 

May  2,  1777.  On  the  petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  in  the 
westerly  part  of  said  Taunton  respecting  the  spreading  of  the  small  pox. 
Voted  that  a  letter  be  sent  to  Mr.  James  Hoar  and  Capt.  Herrick  who 
are  suspected  to  be  assisted  in  carrying  on  inoculation. 

Col.  Williams  and  Mr.  ApoUas  Leonard  are  desired  to  apply  to  Mr. 
Henry  Bovven  Jr.,  for  a  quantity  of  Molasses  he  has  now  in  this  Town, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  needy  inhabitants  thereof. 

Then  adjourned  to  Monday,  May  5th  1777. 

Monday  May  5,  1777.  Tlie  Committee  then  met  and  voted  tiiat 
Three  hogsheads  of  Molasses  out  of  Ten  and  in  that  2)roportion  for  a 
larger  or  smallei'  number  belonging  to  Col.  Bowers  and  Mr.  Boylston  be 
stopped  and  not  suffered  to  be  removed  out  of  the  stores  where  they  are 
now  deposited  in  Taunton,  till  further  order  from  the  Committee. 

On  the  verbal  complaint  of  Mr.  Porter  respecting  the  abuse  he  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  McWhorter,  after  hearing  both  parties,  the  Chairman 
was  desired  to  give  Mr.  McWhorter  a  reprimand  wliicli  was  accordingly 
done. 

Thursday  May  9th,  1777.  Tiie  Committee  met.  It  being  represented  to 
the  Committee  that  several  persons  in  this  Town  had  signed  a  paper  for 
protection  under  Lord  How,  the  Committee  thereon  examined  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Phillips  and  Mr.  Abijah  Hodges  (two  of  whom  were  suspected  had 
signed  said  paper)  both  of  which  jjcrsons  declared  they  had  never  signed 
any  such  thing,  nor  had  seen  none  only  what  was  jniblished  in  the  News- 
papers. 


APPENDIX.  407 

May  1").  Tlic  Committee  ordered  that  Mr.  Seth  Padelt'ord  be  recom- 
mended as  a  suitable  person  for  an  agent  to  the  estate  of  Daniel  Leonard 
Esq.  and  that  James  Williams  Junr.  write  to  the  Judge  of  Probate  (in 
behalf  of  said  Committee)  for  his  appointment. 

May  23.  Mr.  Porter,  Capt.  Luscombe  and  others  complained  of 
being  abused  by  Joseph  Tisdale.  Said  Tisdale  being  sent  for  and  ex- 
amined, confessed  that  he  had  spoken  unadvisedly  and  was  sorry  he  had 
treated  them  or  the  Committee  with  such  language. 

Then  adjourned  to  Thursday  next  at  9  o'clock. 

June  2,  1777.  Ordered  by  the  Committee  that  Brig.  Godfrey  write 
to  the  Committee  of  Upton  and  desire  them  to  search  the  papers  belong- 
ing to  the  Highland  Officers  which  were  sent  from  this  Town  and  if  any 
enemical  design  can  be  discovered  to  acquaint  this  Committee. 

Ordered  that  Joseph  Tisdale  be  notified  to  settle  with  Mr.  Porter 
and  Capt.  Liscombe,  relative  to  his  abusing  them  on  the  evening  of  the 
day  of  May  last. 

Said  Tisdale  being  called  for  appeared  and  declined  making  any 
suitable  acknowledgment  to  said  Porter  and  Liscombe. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  Saturday  next  at  2  o'clock  P.  M. 

ilonday,  Nov.  17,  1777,  Col.  Williams,  Benj.  Williams,  Es(i.,  Capt. 
Ivcad  to  lease  and  let  to  Mr.  Baylies  the  house  and  land  belonging  to  Mr. 
Laughton  or  M.  Ballon  or  both  of  them,  as  the  Committee  see  fit,  and 
for  such  time  as  they  may  think  proper. 

Same  day.  Voted  that  tlie  f  hairman  petition  the  General  Com  t  for 
liberty  for  Mr.  Adam  to  cut  and  cord  150  cords  of  wood  on  land  in 
Taunton  formerly  Mr.  Borland's. 

In  Committee.  Feby,  9,  1778.  Col.  Geo.  Williams,  Benj.  Williams, 
Es(].,  and  Capt.  Simeon  Williams  were  appointed  to  inspect  the  cutting 
and  carrying  off  wood  and  iron  ore  on  the  land  late  Mr.  Borland's  in  the 
easterly  part  of  Taunton,  the  wood  not  to  be  sold  for  less  than  S  shil- 
lings per  cord. 

Committee  of  Inspection,  Correspondence  and  Safety  chosen  at 
Taunton,  Mch.  23d,  1778. 

Brig.  Geo.  Godfrey,  Mr.  Apollas  Leonard, 

Benj.  Williams,  Esq.  Capt.  James  Leonard. 

Capt.  Simeon  Williams.  Capt.  Cornelius  AVhite, 

James  Williams,  Jr.,  Capt.  John  Read, 

Mr.  Xicholas  Baylies,  Capt.  Henry  Hodges, 

Capt.  Elisha  Barney. 

Mch.  olst,  1778.  The  Committee  met.  Chose  Brig.  Godfrey.  Chair- 
man, James  Williams,   Junr.,  Clerk.     Committee  and  Select  3Ien  being 


408  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

requested  to  procure  a  number  of  Shirts,   Shoes  and   Stockings   for  the 
Soldieis  agreed  to  purchase 

100  pair  of  Shoes  at  25  is  $25. 

100        "     Stockings  at  24  is         $24. 
100  Shirts  at  30  each,  $30. 

Benj.  Williams,  Esq.,  Capt,  Simeon  Williams  and  James  AVillianis, 
Jr.,  was  chosen  a  Sub-Committee  to  lease  and  let  out  the  improvement 
of  Tory  Land  (so  called,)  in  Taunton.  The  meeting  adjourned  to  Friday 
next  at  3  o'clock  P.  M. 

Friday  Apl.  3,  1778.  The  Committee  met  and  Voted  to  act  in  prose- 
cuting Mr.  Robert  Grossman  for  writing  and  signing  a  letter  directed  to 
Seth  Williams  at  Newport,  and  adjourned  to  Tuesday  next  at  3  o'clock 
P.   iM. 

Tuesday,  Apl.  7,  1778.  The  Committee  met.  Mr.  Crossmau  present, 
was  asked  the  following  questions. 

Quest.  Did  you  write  a  letter  and  direct  it  to  Seth  Williams  of 
Newport  on  or  about  the  27th  day  of  Mch.  last? 

Answer.     Yes. 

Quest.     What  view  had  you  in  writing  said  letter? 

Answer.  In  hopes  to  entice  liim  off  tlie  Island  for  he  owed  me  a 
sum  of  money. 

Quest.     Did  you  ever  ask  any  person  to  carry  s'd  letter  to  U.  I.? 
Answer.     No — nor  did  I  intend  to  send  it,  for  after  1  had  wrote  it  1  ilis- 
liked  it  myself. 

Quest.     What  view  had  you  by  enquiring  after  Gilbert  and  others. 

Answer.     Only  out  of  curiosity? 

After  which  the  Committee  considered  the  matter  and  ordered  snid 
Crossman  notto  go  out  of  this  Town  till  the  24th  day  of  April  current, 
and  then  to  appear  before  the  Committee  at  this  ])lace  at  one  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon. 

Friday  Apl.  24  1778.  Then  met.  Mr.  Crossman  present,  was  asked 
if  he  was  willing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  State.  Answered 
yes.  And  iifter  being  reprimanded  for  liis  niiscondnct  relative  to  the 
above  mentioned  letter,  was  dismissed. 

'I'he  Committee  ordered  that  the  shoes  collected  for  the  Soldiers  of 
this  Town,  be  deposited  in  the  house  of  Benj.  Williams  Esq.,  and  the 
Shirts  and  stockings  at  Brig.  Godfrey's,  they  to  deliver  the  same  to  Mr. 
Durfey  who  is  appointed  to  receive  the  same. 

Benj.  Williams  Esq.,    Capt.   Simeon  Williams   and  James  Williams, 
Jr.,  to  lease  to  said  Macomber  for  one  year  the  land  he  has  within  fence 
lately  belongijig  to  John  Borland  Esq.,  dec 


API'ENDIX. 


409 


APPENDIX  HH. 

(Page;  58.) 

The  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  (as  prescribed  by  the  Prov- 
ince Laws,  Vol.  V,  c.  21,  p.  479,  May  i,  1776)  was  in  these  words  : 

We  the  Subscribers,  Do  each  of  us  severally  for  ourselves,  profess 
testify  and  declare  before  GOD  and  the  World,  tliat  we  verily  believe 
that  the  War,  Resistance  and  Opposition  in  which  the  United  American 
Colonies  are  now  enga<?ed  against  the  Fleets  and  Armies  of  Great-Brit- 
ain, is  on  the  part  of  said  Colonies  just  and  necessary.  And  we  do  here- 
by severally  promise,  covenant  and  engage,  to  and  with  every  Person  of 
this  Colony,  who  has  or  sh.all  subscribe  this  Declaration,  or  another  of 
the  same  Tenor  and  Words,  that  we  will  not,  during  the  said  AVar, 
directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  Ways,  aid.  abet  or  assist,  any  of  the  Naval 
or  Land  Forces  of  the  King  of  Great-Britain,  or  any  employ'd  by  him; 
or  supply  them  with  any  kind  of  Provisions,  Military  or  Naval  Stores, 
or  hold  any  Correspondence  with,  or  communicate  any  Intelligence  to 
any  of  the  Officers,  Soldiers  or  Mariners  belonging  to  the  said  Army  or 
Navy,  or  inlist,  or  procure  any  others  to  inlist  into  the  Land  or  Sea- 
Service  of  Great-Britain,  or  take  up  or  bear  Arms  against  this  or  either 
of  the  United  Colonies,  or  under  take  to  pilot  any  of  the  Vessels  belong- 
ing to  the  said  Navy,  or  in  any  other  way  aid  or  assist  them:  But  on  the 
contrary,  according  to  our  best  Power  and  Abilities,  will  defend  by  Arms, 
the  United  American  Colonies,  and  every  Part  thereof,  against  every 
hostile  Attempt  of  the  Fleets  and  Armies  in  the  Service  of  Great-Britain, 
or  any  of  them,  according  to  the  Requirements  and  Directions  of  the 
Laws  of  this  Colony  that  now  are,  or  may  hereafter  be  provided,  for  the 
Regulation  of  the  Militia  thereof. 


.John  Godfrey 
John  Thayer 
Henry  Hodges,  Jr. 
Abiathar  Hodges 
James  Hodges 
Jonathan  Thayer 
Stephen  Haskins  Jr. 
Luther  Haskins 
John  Holmes 
Nathanael  Briggs 
Nathanael  Briggs  2d. 
Jacob  Burt 
Abraham  Burt 
John  Hodges 
Simeon  Cobb 


Abel  Burt 
Nedabiah  Lincoln 
Aaron  Pratt 
Ben  Grossman 
Timothy  Hodges 
Nehcmiah  Haskins  Jr. 
William  Haskins  od. 
Samuel  Haskins 
Eli  Haskins 
William  Haskins  2d. 
Richard  Cobb 
James  Lincoln 
Eb'n.  Cobb  Jr. 
Rufus  CObb 
Simeon  Cobb 


James  Woodward 
Daniel  Briggs 
David  Stacy 
Seth  Hodges 
Silas  Antelly 
Thomas  Hodges 
Morgan  Cobb 
William  Hodges 
Samuel  Tower 
."Mexander  Smith 
Elisha  Woodward 
Ichabod  Leonard 
Dan.  Wilde     , 
George  Reed 
Isaiah  Reed 


4IO 


QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


Duvid  Burt 
Dan.   Haskins 
Isaac  Burt 
Ebenezer  Cobb 
Levi  Harlow 
James  Coddinji: 
Aaron  Knapp 
Gideon  Hicks 
Moses  Knap 
Edward  Knap 
Abiathar  Knap 
Sepharim  Knap 
James  Tisdale 
Daniel  Short 
Henry  Brant 
Natbanael  Dean 
Abel  Burt  Jr. 


Timothy  Ilaskins 
Pelitiah  Estey 
Samuel  Hayward 
Jona.  Harvey 
Alpheus  Haskins 
Philip  Mason 
Samuel  Stacey 
Job  Stacey 
Job  Stacey  Jr. 
George  Woodward 
John  Brio;gs 
Ephraim  Briggs 
Amos  Stacey 
James  Harvey 
Ebenezer  Willis 
John  Willis 
Xathan  Dean 


Zei)haniali   Hodges 
Jonathan  Barney 
Jacob  Barney 
Nehimiah  Dean 
Samuel  Gardner 
Benjamin  Williams 
Jna.  Jones 
James  Leonard 
Zeph :  Gary 
Seth  Bollard 
Joseph  Harvey 
Rufus  Leonard 
Oliver  Dean 
Enos  Dean 
George  Keed  Jr. 
Levi  Torrey 
Benoni  Tisdale 


Among  the  ''Godfrey  Papers,"  now  in  the  hands  of  Edgar  H. 
Reed,  Esq.,  may  be  found  copies  of  the  action  of  the  town  meet- 
ings, as  follows  : 

At  a  Town  Meeting  warned  &  held  at  Taunton  on  monday  the  l'2th 
of  April  A.  D.   1779 

Capt.  John  Read,  2nd,  Capt.  John  Harvey,  Messrs.  William  Hollo- 
way,  John  Porter,  Benjamin  Dean,  Phillip  Dean  and  Benjamin  Lincoln 
ye  2d,  was  chosen  a  Committee  to  hire  for  sd.  town  as  reasonably  as  may 
be;  the  men  for  the  Continental  or  State  Service  that  the  Town  or  Sev- 
eral Captins  or  Commanders  of  Companies,  Shall  be  Called  upon  to  Raise 
for  ye  futer: 

and  Further  Voted  that  said  Committee  shall  be  paid  all  ye  money 
they  shall  Engage  or  pay  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  by  a  Tax  to  be  laid 
on  ye  Poles  and  Estates  of  said  Town,  and  a  Reasonable  Sum  for  said 
Committee  for  their  Service 

A  True  Copj',  attest,  James  ^Villiams.  Junr.  T.  Clerk. 

At  a  Town  Meeting  warned  iVr  held  at  Taunton  on  ye  ;]Oth  day  of 
July  A.  D.  1781  &  continued  by  adjournment  to  ye  loth  Day  of  August 
following. 

L':!"_'n.  Voted  that  ye  sum  of  Three  bundled  &  Twenty  pounds  in 
Lawfull  Silvei'  Money  be  raised  by  a  Tax  on  ye  Poles  &  Estates  of  sd 
Town  for  ye  purpose  of  procuring  l.''),lll  wt.  of  Beef  which  this  Town  is 
called  on  for  by  the  Geneial  Court  as  ])er  their  Resolve  dated  ye  22d  day 
of  June  last. 


APPENDIX.  411 

The  Town  then  niarle  Choice  of  Capt.  John  Read  to  procure  the 
above  Quantity  of  Beef  as  Cheap  as  may  he,  &  Deliver  the  same  season- 
ably to  Col.  May  or  whoever  may  be  appointed  to  Receive  ye  same,  yd 
Read  to  be  accountable  for  ye  Money  he  Shall  Receive, — And  ye  assessors 
are  requested  to  make  sd  Tax  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  ye  money  to  be 
Collected  &  paid  to  ye  Town  Treasurer  for  ye  above  purpose. 

Attest: — James  Williams,  T.  Clerk. 


APPENDIX  11. 

(Page  59.) 

The  events  referred  to  took  place  in  the  following  order: 

Taunton's  Flaj?  Unfurled,  October  1774. 

l*atrick  Henry's  Speech,  March  23,1775. 

Battle  of  Lexington,  April  19,  1775. 

Putnam's  departure  from  Connnecticut,  April  L'd,  1775. 

Capture  of  Ticonderooja,  May  10,  1775. 

AVashington  took  command  of  the  Army,  July  ;3,  1775.- 

Declaration  of  Independence,  July  4,  1776. 

Capt.  James  Williams"  Companw  which  marched  so  promptly 
to  Roxbury  the  next  night  after  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  April 
ig-20,  1775,  has  been  already  given. 

Another  Company  was  organized  in  Taunton  for  Col.  Joseph 
Reed's  Regiment,  1775,  the  year  preceding  the  "  Declaration"  as 
follows: 

Oliver  Soper,  Captain;  Simeon  Cobb,  lieutenant;  Thomas  Williams, 
ensign;  Ephraim  Crossman,  George  Woodward,  John  Richmond.  Rufus 
Barney,  sergeants;  Job  Haskins,  William  Williams,  Jonathan  Barney, 
corporals;  Joel  Drake,  fifer;  Simeon  Crossman,  drummer;  Ephraim 
Briggs,  Prince  Caswell,  Richard  Caswell,  .James  Cobb,  Simeon  Cobb, 
James  Coggeshall.  Robert  Davis,  Gideon  Dean,  Asa  Bliss,  And.  Godfrey, 
Thomas  Graves,  Jacob  Iloskins,  Joel  Harvey,  Elk.  Hodges,  .James 
Hodges,  John  Hodges,  Samuel  Hoskins,  Timothy  Hoskius,  Rufus  Har- 
ney, Elijah  Leonard,  Sylvester  Leonard,  Nedediah  Lincoln,  Benjamin 
Leonard.  David  Lincoln,  Ichabor  Macomber.  Seth  Pollard,  Nathaniel 
Potter,  Jacob  Phillips,  Josiah  Reed,  Seth  Richmond,  Increase  Robinson, 
Abel  Stacey,  John  Smith,  Israel  Smith,  George  Tisdale,  Zadoc  Thrasher, 


4l2  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Perez  Thrasher,  Thomas  White,  Isaac  Wasliburn,  Silas  Willis,  Benjamin 
AVoodward,  Nathaniel  Woodward,  Seth  Woodward,  Jonathan  Williams, 
Nathan  Wetherell,  Benjamin  Richmond,  Benoni  Tisdale.  privates:  Ser- 
ved April  24th,  May  '2d  to  Augnst  1st;  averaged  £4  lis.  (3d.  Total 
£':i23  4s.  4d. 

The  roll  of  C'apt.  Jacob  Haskins'  Company  raised  in  1778  for 
one  year  was  as  follows : 

Captain,  Jacob  Haskins  of  Taunton;  Lieutenants,  Noah  Pratt,  Jacob 
French,  Matthias  McForman,  Jonathan  Fletcher;  Sergeants.  Aaron  Tur- 
ner, John  Lawrence,  Jessie  Ellis,  Peter  Smith,  Benjamin  Fuller,  Elijah 
Fuller;  Corporals,  Jonas  Ilumphi'ey,  Daniel  Chickering,  Parker  Earle, 
Increase  Pond,  Samuel  Cushing,  Daniel  Cook;  Privates,  John  Smith, 
Chiistopher  Smith,  Asa  Holbrook,  Zach.  Bimbo.  Samuel  Williams, 
Enoch  Darling,  Jeremiah  Crocker,  William  Fuller,  Joseph  , 

Titus  Metcalf,  Joel  Cleveland,  Warrick  Greene,  Luther  Bullard,  Abra- 
ham Crowley,  Isaac  Daggett,  William  Horton,  Lemuel  Herrin,  Silas 
Morse,  William  Seaver,  Ellis  Whiting,  Mose  Daggett,  Michael  Clark, 
Benjamin  ,  Ephraim  Jackson,   Samuel  Hammond,   Thaddeus 

Stowell,  Oliver  Guild,  Isaac  Brown,  Nathaniel  Draper,  John  Dewee. 

His  subsequent  company  raised  in    1779  to  serve    from    Mar. 
13  to  April  15th,  contained  the  following  names  : 

Captain.  Jacob  Haskins  of  Taunton;  Lieutenant.  Abiel  Macomber; 
Sergeants,  Seth  PauU,  Nathaniel  Snell,  Perez  Drake,  John  McSouth, 
Joshua  Staple;  Corporals,  Nathaniel  Dean,  Edward  Dean,  Philip  Denn? 
Isaac  Hall;  drummer,  Abiel  Hay  ward;  fifer,  Ebenezer  Smith;  Privates, 
John  Burt,  Elijah  Briggs,  George  Darby,  Abraham  Dean,  Zebedee 
Hackett,  Joseph  Hall,  Solomon  McSouth,  John  Phillips,  Abel  Pain, 
David  Padelford,  Elijah  Richmond,  Elkanah  Smith,  Laban  Smith, 
James  Williams  Jr.,  Abiel  Dean,  Nathan  Hall,  Nehemiali  Leonard,  Ele- 
zer  Wilbur,  Israel  Jones,  Zadoc  Turner,  Elisha  Garey,  Nathaniel  Hall, 
John  Bolton,  Pelcg  Osborn,  James  Gilmore,  John  Shaw,  Lemuel 
Briggs. 


APPENDIX    JJ. 

(PllRO   61.] 

One  of  the  receipts  of  those  days  reads  as  follows 


APPENDIX.  413 

"  Taunton,  April  2d,  1781.  Rec'd.  of  tlie  Widow  Elizabeth  Macom- 
ber,  Adniinistratiix  on  tbe  estate  of  .Ino.  Macomber,  late  of  Taunton 
"disseased,"  by  the  Hand  of  Henry  Hodges  Twenty  Two  Spanish  milled 
Dollars,  also  Four  Hundred  &  Fifty  paper  Dollars  in  the  old  Emission  in 
in  the  Lew  of  six  silver  Dollars;  also  Five  Hundred  &  Twenty  Five  Dol- 
lars in  the  old  Emission  in  the  Lew  of  seven  silver  Dollars,  which  being 
in  full  of  all  accounts, 

per  Me— Job  Godfrey." 

And  a  charge  on  the  books  of  one  of  the  traders  of  the  day  reads 
thus: 

"John  McPherson  Dr.  to  R.  Caldwell. 
1780.  £        s. 

May  To  6  weeks'  board  ol:!        4 
July  To  sundries  for 

liquors,  0       IS 

Sept.  1,  To  6  weeks  board 

to  this  date,  ?»13        4 

To  Sundries  to  date  15 

"  4  glasses  liquor  3      12 


654      18 
On  the  credit  side  is  3  feet  of  wood     15i: 

1  peck  of  corn        3£  15  s. 

The  full  account  of  the  demonstrations  in  Taunton,  by  the 
insurgents  in  the  Shay's  rebellion,  may  be  found  in  a  printed 
eulogy  on  Gen.  Cobb,  by  the  Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  delivered  be- 
fore the  Taunton  Lyceum  in  June,  1830. 

The  transactions  at  the  September  term  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  were  thus  reported  by  Gen.  Cobb  to  the  Governor: 

Taunton,  September  13th,  1786. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honor  of  informing  your  Excellency  that  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  sett  yesterday  at 
the  Court  House  in  this  town.  The  detachments  of  militia  from  the 
Brigades  of  Plymouth  and  Bristol  which  had  been  ordered  out  agree- 
ably to  your  Excellency's  directions  of  the  2d  inst.,  and  at  the  request 
of  the  sheriff  of  this  county,  had  arrived  at  this  place  previous  to  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  Excellency's  letter  of  the  11th  directed  to  Mr.  Sheriff 
Leonard.  As  the  militia  were  here  and  in  possession  of  the  Court 
House,  and  happily  in  numbers  sufficient  to  support  the  civil  authority 
in  the  execution  of  duty,  and  as  very  large  numbers  of  people  were  as- 
sembled, many  of  whom  were   in  arms,  and  all   determined  wickedly  to 


414  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

oppose  the  authority  of  the  government,  it  was  thought  iirudent  and 
necessary  by  the  sheriff  and  court  that  the  troops  should  continue  to 
protect  them  in  their  present  session.  But  as  general  clamor  and  dis- 
content has  pervaded  this  part  of  the  commonwealth,  and  as  the  court 
was  now  convened  at  the  time  and  place  appointed  by  law,  in  which  the 
honor  and  dignity  of  government  was  completely  supported,  they  con- 
ceived it  to  be  their  duty  to  have  some  regard  to  the  alarming  disturb- 
ances of  the  present  day  and  accordingly  adjourned  the  business  of  tliis 
session  to  the  2d  Tuesday  of  December  next.  This  measure,  I  am  sure, 
gives  great  satisfaction  to  the  friends  as  well  as  the  enemies  of  govern- 
ment here,  and  I  hope  will  meet  your  Excellency's  approbation.  The 
mob  shouted  "a  generous  concession  on  the  part  of  authority,"  and  the 
militia  retired  in  great  order  with  the  thanks  of  government  for  their 
generous  firmness  on  this  occasion.  I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  great 
esteem  and  respect,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant. 

DAVID  COBB. 
His  Excellency  Governor  Bowdoin. 

The  tradition  among  the  members  of  the  Cobb  family,  still 
living,  is  that  on  the  morning  of  Sept.  13,  1786,  the  mob  assem- 
bled in  front  of  the  Court  House  with  guns,  clubs,  &c.,  and  when 
noisy  and  clamorous  for  the  adjournment  of  the  Court,  Gen.  Cobb 
addressed  them  in  these  words:  "Away  with  your  whining,  and 
disperse."  Not  heeding  his  admonition  Gen.  Cobb  left  the  Court 
House  and  went  to  his  brother  Jonathan's  house,  where  his  regi- 
. mentals  were  kept,  and  having  put  them  on,  ordered  his  horse 
brought  to  the  door,  and   as  he  passed  out  to    mount,  his   brother 

Jonathan  said,  "David,  what  in are  you  going  to  do  with  your 

regimentals?"  "I  expect  trouble,"  said  he,  "with  that  Shay's 
crowd,  and  am  determined  to  sit  as  a  Judge,  or  die  as  a  General." 
He  then  sent  his  wife  and  children  into  the  cellar  for  protection 
from  the  mob,  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  out  to  what  he  expected 
might  be  a  bloody  condict. 

Gen.  Cobb's  account  of  the  affair  at  the  October  term  of  the 
Supreme  Court  may  be  found  in  another  letter  to  Gov.  Bowdoin, 
as  follows  : 

Taunton,  Oct.  30,  1780. 
Sir: — As  the  lion.  Supreme    Court   returned   immediately  from  this 
town  to  Boston,  Your  Excellency  must  have  been  informed  of  the  suc- 
cessful protection  that  government  received  here  from  the  militia  of  this 


APPENDIX.  415 

division.  Tins  informiitiou  witli  disbanding  the  troops  and  other  conse- 
quent attention  will,  I  hope,  pardon  my  omission  of  any  earlier  commu- 
nication. 

On  Sunday  evenin<^  precedinjj  the  sittiufj:  of  the  court,  I  took  posses- 
sion of  the  court  house  and  the  i)iece  of  artillery  here  with  a  small  com- 
pany of  volunteers  of  this  town.  On  Monday  morning  this  comjjany 
was  greatly  increased  in  number,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day. 
were  reinforced  by  the  two  full  companies  of  militia  from  the  faithful 
town  of  Raynham  and  a  small  company  of  volunteers  from  Rehoboth. 

Lieut.-Col.  Orr,  with  a  detachment  from  the  ord  Regiment  of  the 
Plymouth  Brigade,  arrived  in  the  evening  at  the  meeting  house  in  this 
town.  This  body  by  the  active  and  s^jirited  exertions  of  the  comman- 
der came  to  my  assistance  much  sooner  than  was  expected. 

The  leaders  of  the  insurgents,  during  the  day,  were  traversing  tlie 
county  to  collect  their  force  and  frequently  threatening  that  through 
slaughter  they  would  possess  themselves  of  the  court  house  this  night. 
This  gave  me  no  uneasiness  as  I  was  secure  of  my  numbers  and  knew 
theirs  to  be  trifling.  But  during  the  night  and  on  Tuesday  morning  a 
report  prevailed  that  a  large  number  were  coming  from  the  county  of 
Worcester  to  join  the  disaffected  here.  As  it  was  possible  this  report 
might  be  true,  1  thought  it  prudent  to  call  on  three  companies  of  the 
adjoining  militia  to  re-enforce  by  Wednesday  morning.  This  day  the 
insurgents  collected  their  force  and  took  up  a  rendezvous  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  this  place,  but  finding  their  numbers  insufficient  for  an 
attack  they  dispersed  at  sunset  with  orders  to  assemble  at  the  same 
place  on  the  following  morning.  Their  leaders  in  the  course  of  the  night 
were  to  ransack  all  parts  of  the  county  so  as  to  collect  every  possible 
addition  to  their  force.  Their  numbers  at  this  time  were  ninety-eight 
in  arms  and  forty-three  without. 

On  Wednesday  forenoon  those  companies  of  militia  that  had  been 
ordered  the  preceding  day,  joined  me;  these  with  what  were  on  the 
ground  before  made  the  government  troops  o75,  rank  and  file. 

About  10  o'clock,  being  informed  that  the  insurgents  were  on  their 
march,  I  ordered  the  following  disposition  of  troops,  viz. 

Lieut. -Colonel  Orr  with  part  of  his  detachment  on  the  right — the 
two  companies  from  Raynham  on  the  left, — the  Field  i>iece  with  its 
company  of  volunteers  in  the  centre, — composed  the  front  line.  The  re- 
mainder of  Col.  Orr's  detachment  with  the  Rehoboth  troops  and  two 
companies  of  militia  formed  the  rear  line.  The  other  company  of  militia 
was  posted  at  the  door  of  the  court  house.  Soon  after  this  order  w  as 
completed  the  insugreuts  came  on  the  Green  with  military  parade,  and 
with  more  insolence  than  force  formed  their  line  directly  in  front  of 
mine,  and  not  more  than  thirty  yards  distant.  Their  numbers  were  one 
hruidred  forty-eight  in  arms,  including  officers,  and  thirty-four  without 


4l6  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

arms.  The  fear  aud  raoe  with  which  they  liad  alarmed  the  county  for  some 
days  past,  appeared  to  have  vanished,  and  the  sight  of  government  in 
force  made  them  as  peaceable  a  set  of  rioters  as  ever  with  so  much  im- 
pudence advanced  so  near  their  enemy. 

They  continued  in  the  same  situation  almost  three  hours,  and  after 
presenting  a  petition  to  the  Supreme  Court  and  receiving  their  answer, 
they  retired  in  the  same  manner  they  came  on.  Their  commander  wish- 
ing me  a  good  night,  as  he  went  off  the  field,  and  promised  to  return  the 
next  day  with  petitions  that  would  be  more  agreeable  to  the  Honorable 
Court,  but  before  they  had  marched  a  mile,  he  dismissed  them  from  any 
further  service. 

Although  the  insurgents  were  dispersed  yet  I  conceived  it  necessary 
to  continue  the  troops  during  the  morning  session  of  the  court,  and 
accordingly  they  were  not  discharged  until  Friday  noon. 

The  behavior  of  both  officers  and  men  during  their  continuance  here, 
would  have  done  honor  to  much  older  troops.  They  retired  from  the 
town  without  the  least  injury  to  persons  or  property.  Some  of  the 
militia  that  were  called  upon  on  this  occasion,  turned  out  with  alacrity 
and  spirit, — but  the  exertions  of  the  little  town  of  Raynham  deserves 
every  praise  from  government. 

These  proceedings  will,  I  hope,  meet  the  approbation  of  your  excel- 
lency and  the  Honorable  General  Assembly.  I  have  the  honor  to  be 
with  great  esteem  and  respect,  your  excellency's  most  humble  servant, 

David  Cobb. 
To  His  Excellency  Governor  Bowdoin. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  newspapers  of  that  period, 
throw  some  light  upon  the  occurrences  at  Taunton,  alluded  to  in 
the  Address  : 

[Mass.  Gazette,  Oct.  27,  1786,] 

Order,  on  the  probability  of  attempts  being  made  to  stop  the  sitting 
of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  at  Taunton. 

( )n  Saturday  an  order  jjassed  apijointing  a  committee  of  both  Houses, 
to  wait  on  the  (Governor,  to  inform  him,  that  information  having  been 
given,  that  there  was  a  degree  of  probability,  that  some  attempts 
might  be  made  to  prevent  the  sitting  of  the  Suisreme  Judicial  Court  in 
'I'aunton  on  the  next  Tuesday,  although  the  Legislature  entertained  full 
(•(inlidence  that  his  Excellency  exercise  that  authority  on  this  occasion, 
with  which  the  constituti(m  had  vested  him,  yet  that  they  could  not 
forbear  expressing  their  desire,  that  he  would  imnu'diatcly  give  the  most 
serious  attention  to  the  subject. 

On  Monday,  his  Excellency  sent  a  message  to  both  Houses,  acquaint- 
ing them  of  his  proceedings  upon  this  subject,  which  gave  rise  to  an- 


APPENDIX.  417 

other  committee  of  both  Houses  who  were  instructed  to  thank  his  Excel- 
lency for  the  intelli<;ence  he  had  been  pleased  to  communicate  to  the 
Court,  respectin<f  the  measures  he  liad  taken  to  support  the  Supreme  Ju- 
dicial Court,  at  their  session  in  the  County  of  Bristol;  and  to  assure  his 
Excellency,  that  the  General  Court,  in  the  earliest  part  of  their  session, 
did  bear  their  faithful  testimony  against  the  late  outrageous  proceedings 
in  several  counties  within  this  Commonwealth ;  and  did  express  their 
high  satisfaction  in  the  measures  wiiich  his  Excellency  had  taken  to  sup- 
press the  same,  and  their  firm  resolution  to  support  the  constitutional 
authority  of  the  government;  and  at  the  same  time  eni^uire  into  and  re- 
dress all  real  grievances;  and  did  also  resolve,  that  compensation  should 
be  made  to  such  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  militia  as  appeared  in  pur- 
suance of  his  Excellency's  order  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned,  and 
that  like  compensation  should  be  made  for  such  of  the  said  officers  and 
soldiers  as  might  hereafter  be  called  forth  upon  similar  occasions.  And 
the  said  committee  were  further  instructed  to  assure  his  Excellency, 
that  the  General  Court  would  always,  on  such  and  other  occasions,  afford 
the  Supreme  Executive,  all  that  aid  w^iich  should  be  incumbent  on  them, 
in  their  own  department,  fully  confiding  that  his  Excellency  would  still 
persevere  in  the  exercise  of  such  powers  as  were  vested  in  him  by  our 
excellent  constitution,  for  enforcing  due  obedience  to  the  authority  and 
laws  of  government,  and  for  preventing  any  attempts  to  interrupt  the 
administration  of  law  and  justice  for  the  future,  upon  which  the  peace 
and  safety  of  the  Commonwealth,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Covirt,  immedi- 
ately depended.  And  the  committee  were  further  instructed  to  acquaint 
his  Excellency,  that  it  was  the  earnest  desire  of  the  General  Court,  that 
immediate  measures  might  be  taken  for  the  support  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  to  be  holden  by  law  within  the  county  of  Middlesex  the 
ensuing  week. 

[The  Centinel,  Oct.  28,  17S6.] 
A  gentleman  from  Taunton  acquaints  us,  that  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court  opened  at  that  place  on  Tuesday  last,  without  molestation ; — Gen. 
Cobb,  having  previously  posted  near  the  Court  House  about  800  militia, 
fen- their  protection; — That  "the  mob"  (as  says  the  gentleman,  the  in- 
surgents are  called  in  every  place  he  came  through)  amounting  to  about 
l^O  armed  with  muskets,  and  about  50  with  sticks,  assembled  on  Tues- 
day, and  on  Wednesday  marched  over  to  the  Green  near  the  Court 
House.  Gen.  Cobb  had  his  men  drawn  up  to  receive  them,  with  a  held 
piece  in  front,  and  a  roi-ps  de  reserve  at  a  distance  in  the  rear,  and  might, 
as  he  assured  our  informant,  have  made  the  whole  body  his  prisoners :  but 
they  not  appearing  solicitous  for  coercive  measures,  were  permitted  to 
stay  on  the  Green,  during  which  time,  a  David  Valentine,  of  Freetown, 
drew  up,  signed  and  presented  to  the  Court,  in  "behalf  of  the  County,"' 
as  he  expressed  it,  a  memorial,  requesting  that  all  civil  actions  might  be 


4l8  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

continued  to  the  next  term  and  several  other  matters  whicli  fully  desig- 
nated his  ignorance  and  folly,  but  his  Honor  the  Chief  Judge,  question- 
ing him,  on  the  propriety  of  his  appearing  "  in  behalf  of  the  county," 
when  the  county  had  sent  a  Grand  Jury,  and  two  full  Petit  Juries  to  try 
cases,  he  thought  it  advisable  to  decamp  from  the  Court  House  and  re- 
join his  party,  who  on  hearing  his  story,  returned  to  their  several  homes, 
lamenting  their  gullibility,  and  convinced  of  the  folly  of  their  enter- 
prise. 

[Mass.  Gazette,  Nov.  17,  1786,] 

Boston,  Nov.  17,  1780. 

The  following  paragraph  contains  particulars  of  the  transactions  at 
Tamiton,  during  the  late  sessions  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  at  that 
place,  which  we  have  not  yet  published. 

On  Siniday,  previous  to  the  sitting  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  at 
Taunton,  Gen.  Cobb  received  information  that  the  mob  intended  oppo- 
sition. In  consequence  of  this,  the  night  following,  he  directed  fifteen 
or  twenty  men  to  take  possession  of  the  Court  House,  and  secure  the 
field  piece.  Also,  called  upon  the  same  militia,  who  had  so  ett'ectually 
supported  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  to  make  their  appearance  once 
more  on  the  present  occasion.  They  arrived  in  season,  and  consisted  of 
two  or  three  companies  from  Bridgewater,  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Orr;  two  companies  from  Eaynham — a  town  celebrated  for  its  unani- 
mous attachment  to  government,  led  on  by  their  Captains  Hall  and 
Washburn; — a  spirited  Volunte'er  company  from  Rehoboth,  headed  by 
Lieutenants  Peake  and  Carpenter; — and  a  Volunteer  Company  from 
Taunton,  under  Captain  Williams.  The  mob  assembled  on  Tuesday,  but 
under  such  apprehension,  they  did  not  choose  to  approach  nearer  than  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  the  scene  of  action.  Pearse,  one  of  their  leaders  re- 
turiunl  in  the  evening,  advising  the  rest  before  he  withdrew  to  disperse: 
telling  them  he  had  been  deceived  relative  to  the  disposition  of  the  county, 
and  if  they  persisted,  it  would  certainly  terminate  in  disgrace.  How- 
ever, a  David  Valentine,  who  pretended  to  the  principal  command,  had 
influence  enough  to  prevent  this;  and  sent  into  every  town  of  the  county, 
aiul  other  towns  adjacent,  for  a  reinforcement.  On  Wednesday  about 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  they  ventured  to  show  themselves  on  the 
green,  in  front  of  the  militia,  under  the  command  of  Valentine.  Their 
numbers  were  144  armed,  and  about  ;]0  unarmed.  The  militia  at  this 
time  were  reinforced  by  a  large  company  from  the  south  of  Taunton, 
under  Cajit.  Tovvnsend,  and  two  companies  from  Dighton,  under  Cap- 
tains Walker  and  Talbot.  The  mob  appeared  to  have  an  inclination  to 
march  into  tlie  rear  of  the  militia;  but  the  bayonets  which  were  ready 
to  receive  them,  and  charging  the  field  piece  in  their  sight,  soon  brought 
tliem  to  their  senses;  and  they  retreated  to  a  proper  distance.     They  had 


APPENDIX.  419 

foolishly  imagined  tliat  some  of  the  militia  would  join  them:  but  instead 
of  that,  some  of  their  own  party  withdrew  and  went  over  to  the  militia. 
Valentine  then  asked  permission  to  wait  on  the  Court,  which  was 
granted.  He  then  presented  a  petition,  signed  only  by  himself,  in  be- 
half of  the  county  of  Bristol,  that  all  civil  actions  might  be  continued  to 
the  next  term.  He  no  sooner  presented  this,  than  he  was  seized  with  a 
panic,  and  discovered  an  inclination  to  withdraw  without  an  answer. 
But  his  Honor,  the  Chief  .Justice,  called  after  him,  stop  man,  with  an  au- 
thority that  occasioned  his  instant  return.  He  was  then  reprimanded 
for  his  folly  and  i^resumption,  in  such  a  manner,  that  he  has  since  con- 
fessed he  shrunk  into  notJiinr/,  and  seemed  to  himself  dropping  through  the 
floor  of  the  Court  House,  which  would  hare  been  a  relief  to  him  had  it  taken 
place. 

He  after  this  joined  his  party,  and  sometime  in  the  evening  they  all 
dispersed,  and  were  heard  of  no  more.  The  militia  were  not  dismissed 
until  P^riday  in  the  afternoon,  wh^n  the  business  of  the  Court  was  over. 
They  justly  derived  to  themselves  great  honor  and  applause  for  their 
order,  regularity  and  tirmness.  They  one  and  all  acted  from  principle — 
from  a  thorough  conviction  that  they  were  securing  the  good  and  hap])i- 
ness  of  their  country: — and  held  the  mob  in  such  detestation,  that  they 
solemnly  declared,  if  the  national  vengeance  slumbered  on,  and  did  not 
reach  them  in  a  constitutional  way,  they  themselves  would  execute  it, 
and  in  that  complete  and  exemplary  manner,  that  very  few  hereafter  in 
the  county  of  Bristol  would  be  disposed  to  disturb  the  common  peace, 
and  thus  daringly  insult  the  majesty  of  the  people. 

[The  Ceutinel,  Dec.  28.  1786.] 

We  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  our  readers,  that  the  spirit  of  op- 
position to  government,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  has  very  much  abated 
— The  Court  of  Sessions  set  there  the  19th  inst,  without  any  opposition. 
The  vast  quantity  of  snow  on  the  ground,  prevented  two  of  the  .Justices 
of  the  Common  Pleas  from  attending — the  other  tw'o,  who  were  present, 
adjourned  the  Court  by  Proclamation. 

It  is  a  common  remark,  that  the  people  in  that  county  were  never 
known  to  be  so  industrious  in  agriculture  as  they  have  been  the  last  sum- 
mer— they  had  a  very  fine  season  for  everything  but  cider — their  store- 
houses are  consequently  well  tilled — their  cider  barrels  empty.  They  are 
now  busily  engaged  in  nail  making — no  less  than  .300  ax'e  said  to  be 
daily  employed  in  that  business  in  the  town  of  Taunton,  besides  nearly 
as  many  more  in  preparing  the  coal  and  rods — They  in  general  support 
their  families  from  week  to  week  by  their  labor:  their  earnings  in  the 
summer  are  consequently  saved  for  the  payment  of  their  debts  or  in- 
crease of  their  estates — Would  the  three  western  counties  engage  in  some 
similar  employment,  they  would  soon  be  contented  at  home,  and  be 
happy  under  the  present  government — In  a  country  like  this,  with  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  Massachusetts,  an  honest,  industrious  people 
will  never  be  poor,  discontented  or  rebellious. 


420        QUARTER  MILLENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

APPENDIX   KK. 

[Page  08.] 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  Taunton,  at  the  beginning  of 
this  century  appear  in  the  following  objections  to  a  bridge  being 
built  across  Taunton  Great  River  below  the  Weir  bridge,  drawn 
up  by  Taunton  people  for  the  Legislature  of  1 800-1  : 

"  First.  There  are  sixteen  coasting  vessels  owned  and  employed 
above  the  place  where  the  said  bridge  is  intended  to  be  built,  drawing 
from  six  to  seven  and  a  half  feet  of  water,  ten  of  which  pass  and  repass 
to  Providence,  Bedford,  etc.,  twenty-five  times  each  year  at  least;  the 
other  six  pass  and  repass  to  and  from  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Connect- 
icut, New  Jersey,  etc.  at  least  eight  times  each  a  year,  freighted  wholly 
with  the  manufactures  of  Taunton  and  the  neighboring  towns  about, 
and  generally  bringing  back  raw  materials  and  grain,  making  in  the 
whole  five  hundred  and  ninety-six  times  the  said  vessels  will  have  to 
pass  said  bridge  in  a  year,  being  a  damage  to  the  voyages  of  the  smaller 
vessels  of  at  least  twelve  shillings,  and  of  the  larger  vessels  of  at  least 
twenty-four  shillings  each  time  they  have  to  pass  said  bridge,  amount- 
ing to  four  hundred  and  five  pounds  four  shillings  a  year. 

Secondly.  As  there  are  three  difficult,  rocky  and  dangerous  places 
to  pass  above  and  below  the  place  said  bridge  is  to  stand,  unless  at  slack 
water,  by  reason  of  the  rapidity  of  the  current,  from  five  to  fifteen  min- 
utes detention  would  render  it  unsafe  attempting  to  pass  said  places,  by 
which  detention  they  would  frequently  lose  a  fair  wind,  and  be  de- 
tained several  days;  besides,  the  said  vessels  now  pass  up  and  down  at 
all  times  of  the  night,  which  they  could  not  do  if  said  bridge  is  built,  to 
their  great  damage.  There  are  also  frequently  vessels  passing  up  and 
down  that  are  not  owned  in  the  river. 

Thirdly.  That  there  are  at  least  three  millions  of  bricks  made  in 
Taunton  a  year,  nearly  all  of  them  transported  down  said  river, 
which  business  gives  employment  to  a  large  number  of  men  and  teams, 
and  which  must  be  stopped  if  there  is  any  additional  expense  in  getting 
the  bricks  to  market. 

Fourthly.  That  there  are  manufactured  in  Taunton  and  vicinity 
eight  hundred  tons  of  iron-ware  at  least,  the  furnaces  at  which  it  is 
made  depending  in  a  great  measure  upon  ore  freighted  up  Taunton 
River,  and  that  there  are  seven  hundred  tons  of  bar-iron  slit  and  rolled 
in  Taunton  and  made  into  nails,  shovels,  etc.,  giving  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  men,  the  greater  part  of  said  manufactures  being  car- 
ried down  said  river,  the  vessels  engaged  in  the  business  bringing  back 
corn  and  provisions  to  supply  the  workmen  employed,  and  we  believe 


APPENDIX. 


421 


tli;it  it'  there  is  any  furtlicr  obstruction  to  the  navigation  of  said   river 
the  said  business  will  eventually  be  destroyed. 

Fifthly.  We  believe  that  a  bridge  across  said  river  will  be  of  no 
considerable  advantage  to  the  public,  as  there  is  no  considerable  place 
of  business  on  the  river  below  Taunton,  and  but  very  few  people  cross 
the  ferries,  at  one  of  which  not  a  mile  below  whei-e  it  is  intended  to 
build  said  bridge,  does  not  bring  into  the  ferryman  more  than  six  or 
seven  younds  a  year,  and  the  other  ferry,  about  two  miles  below  where 
the  said  bridge  is  intended  to  be  built,  does  not  more  than  pay  the  ex- 
pense of  boat  and  tender." 


APPENDIX  LL. 


[Page  71.] 


The   following    tables   show  the   population    and  valuation    of 
Taunton  at  various  periods,  from  1775  to   1889  : 


A..  D.  Population. 

A.  D.  Valuation. 

Colonial  Census, 

1775—  2,735 

1784— £3743-14s. 

»i            " 

1776—  3,259 

1791— £5433-5s.  5d. 

\  1790—  3,804 

1801—      $26,069 

1800—  3,860 

1811—        29,598 

1810-  3,907 

1821—        42,326 

U.  S.  Census, 

1820-  4,.520 

1831—  1,4.50,323 

1830—  6,042 

1841—  2,260,401 

1840—  7,645 

1851—  3.701,472 

,  1850—10,441 

1861—  7,937,007 

State  Census, 

1855—13,750 

1870—15,002,099 

U.  S.       " 

1860—15,376 

1880—15,218,848 

State      " 

1865—16,005 

1887-17,291,740 

U.  S.       " 

1870—18,629 

1889— About  $19,000,000,  includ- 

State     " 

1875—20,445 

ing  the   property  taxed 

U.  S.       " 

1X80-21,213 

by  the  State. 

State       " 

1885—23,674 

Estimated 

1889—25,000  to  30,000 

ERRATA. 


Page  39,  line  four  from  top,  strike  out  i  after  clays,  and  sub- 
stitute I  for  2  in  line  seven. 

Page  39,  line  thirteen  from  top,  add  2  after  the  words  "might 
coake  him  " 

Page  70,  line  eighteen  from  top,  strike  out  after  vastness,  the 
words,  "the  product  of"  and  in  next  line  insert  "our  city's"  after 
the  word  hum. 

Page  140,  line  seven  from  bottom,  read  keeps  for  lets. 

Page  233,  Appendix  A  for  Walluspaquin  read  Wattuspaquin. 

Page  259,  line  fourteen  from  bottom,  for  "1669"  read  "1689." 

Page  263,  line  twelve  from  top,  strike  out  "of"  before  "other." 

Page  287,  line  two  from  top,  for  16 18  read  1681. 

Page  324,  for  John  Winthrope  read  John  Winthorpe, 

Page  399,  line  six  from  top,  for  Elisha  Banney  read  Elisha 
Barney. 


NOTE  BY  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  PUBLICATION. 


The  variation  in  the  spelling  of  names  in  different  parts  of 
this  book  may  call  for  a  word  of  explanation.  The  names  of  Pole 
and  Hook,  for  example,  in  the  17th  century  are  Poole  and  Hooke 
in  later  times.     The  same  variation  appears  in  many  other  names. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  Taunton  Gkeen,  1786, Frontispiece 

2.  Taunton  Gkekn,  1889,   Opp.  p.     25 

a.     Neck  of  Land,  A  Business  Centre  in  tlie  Olden  Time,  ) 

0pp.  p.     1)5 

4.  Old  Anchor  Foiioe,  Site  of  First  Iron  Works, ) 

5.  MouTON  Hospital,  former  residence  of  Gov.  Morton,  ) 

Opp.  p.  102 
0.     City  Hall, ) 

7.  Procession  passing  tliroiigli  Main  street, OpP-  P-  176 

8.  DioiiTON  Rock,  First  approach  of  Civilization, ) 

[    Opp.  p.  171> 
U.     CoiiANNET,  Tlie  Land  of  Snow, ) 

lU.     Elizabeth  Poole  making  her  Purchase, ) 

(As  represented  on  the  City  Seal.)  '     Opp.  p.    l8o 

11.  Capt.  Church  at  An  aw  an' s  Rock, ) 

12.  Model  of  Leonard  House,  in  Raynliam, . .  ^ 

[    Opp.  p.  187 

13.  Puritan  Parson,  Leader  of  his  people, ) 


14.  Church  of  the  First  Conojjeoational  Society,.  .  ) 

Opp.  p.   18U 

15.  HisTOiHCAL  Hall, ) 

16.  Ancient  Leonard  Mansion,  "iiouscof  Seven  oabics,". .  ■  ) 

Opp.  p.  223 

17.  Old  Gamrrel  Roofed  House, ) 

(Opposite  the  Ancient  Iron  Works.) 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Protatory  Notice  of  the  Committee  of  City  Government o 

Committees  of  City  Government,  1886-89, 4 

City  Government,  1889, 5 

Note  of  Committee  on  Publication, 0 

Introductory  Notice, 7-14 

Officers  of  the  Day  and  Joint  General  Committee, 15 

Sub-Committees, 16-2y 

Proceedinos  in  Music  Hall : 

Scripture  Reading  and  Prayer  by  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,   25-27 

Address  by  Hon.  Richard  Henry  Hall, 27-29 

Historical  Address  by  Hon.  Edmund  H.  Bennett, 29-77 

Poem  by  Henry  W.  Colby,  Esq. , 77-94 

Benediction  by  Rev.  Charles  H.  Learoyd, 94 

The  Banquet  in  Agricultural  Hall : 

Invocation  by  Rev.  John  P.  Forbes, 95 

Introductory  Address  by  Mayor  Hall, 96 

First  Sentiment  of  Judge  Fox,  the  Toastmaster, 96 

Letters  from  President  Hari'ison  and  Vice-President  Morton,. .  97-98 

Address  of  Governor  Oliver  Ames, 98-99 

Address  of  Chief  Justice  Marcus  Morton, 100-102 

Address  of  Rev.  Dr,  Henry  M.  Dexter, 103-108 


426  QUARTER    MILLENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

Address  of  Rev.  Dr.  George  E.  Ellis, lOS-110 

Letter  from  the  Mayor  of  Taunton,  England, 110-111 

Address  of  Hon.  Josiah  H.  Drummond, 112-117 

Address  of  Hon.  Robert  Treat  Paine, 117-120 

Address  of  Hon.  Edmund  H.  Bennett, 121 

Poem  by  Miss  Mary  E,  N.  Hatheway, 121-122 

Address  of  Rev,  S.  Hopkins  Emery, 123-12,5 

Address  of  Hon.  William  W.  Crape, 125-127 

Address  of  Capt.  George  A.  Washburn, 128-131 

Address  of  Hon.  William  E.  Fuller, 131-133 

Address  of  Hon.  Hugh  O'Brien, 134-1.35 

Address  of  Hon.  William  Reed,  Jr., 135-136 

Address  of  Hon.  H.  W.  Ladd,  Governor  of  Rhode  Island, 136-137 

Address  of  Hon.  Elijah  A.  Morse, 137-139 

Address  of  George  A.  Shove,  Esq. , 139-142 

Festival  Ode,  by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Deane,  I  144-145 

Mvisic  by  Mr.  George  W.  Dean,    )    

Anniversary  Hymn,  by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Deane,  }  ^Ar-1ncl 

Music  by  Mrs.  Annie  M.  (Soule)  Lewis,    (    i^o  lou 

Invited  Guests  of  the  City,   151-153 

Letters  from  invited  guests, 154-166 

Correspondence  with  Taunton,  England, 166-172 

Reception  and  Ball, 173-175 

The  Grand  Procession,  on  the  second  day, , 176-188 

Donation  and  Loan  Exhibition  in  Historical  Hall, 189-222 

Memorial  Tablets, 223-232 

Appendix, 23.3-421 


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